Could ertugliflozin reduce laminitis risk following corticosteroid joint injections?

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Intra-articular (IA) corticosteroid injections are widely used in equine practice to manage joint
pain and inflammation associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis. One commonly used corticosteroid is triamcinolone acetonide (TA), which can provide significant relief from lameness and improve performance. However, growing evidence suggests that even when corticosteroids are administered directly into a joint, they can have effects throughout the body, including alterations in blood glucose and insulin concentrations.

This is important because elevated insulin concentrations (hyperinsulinaemia) are strongly associated with endocrinopathic laminitis, one of the most common and serious causes of laminitis in horses. Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or insulin dysregulation (ID) are considered particularly vulnerable, but any horse experiencing a substantial increase in insulin may be at risk.

Researchers have recently investigated whether ertugliflozin, a member of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) drug class, could help reduce these post-corticosteroid insulin increases. In human medicine, SGLT2 inhibitors are commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes by promoting the excretion of glucose through the urine, thereby reducing blood glucose and insulin levels. More recently, these drugs have attracted attention in equine medicine as a treatment for severe insulin dysregulation.

Two independent studies have now examined the effects of ertugliflozin administration around the time of IA corticosteroid treatment in horses.

The first study, conducted by Page and colleagues at the University of Kentucky, used eight metabolically normal geldings in a controlled crossover design. Horses either received no treatment or were given ertugliflozin for seven days before and seven days after receiving a clinically relevant dose of triamcinolone acetonide. Researchers measured resting glucose and insulin concentrations and performed oral sugar tests to assess the horses' insulin responses.

The results showed that horses receiving ertugliflozin had significantly lower blood glucose and insulin concentrations following corticosteroid administration. Resting glucose concentrations remained lower for up to 48 hours after injection, while resting insulin concentrations were lower for up to 72 hours. Insulin responses during oral sugar testing were also reduced. Importantly, no obvious adverse effects were observed during the study.

A second study by Darch and colleagues produced similar findings. Using a randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design, eight Standardbred geldings received either ertugliflozin or a placebo before and after IA triamcinolone administration. The researchers monitored blood insulin, glucose and triglyceride concentrations over the treatment period.

Again, ertugliflozin substantially reduced the insulin response following corticosteroid injection. The peak insulin concentration (Cmax) was approximately 40 μIU/mL in the placebo group but only 17 μIU/mL in horses receiving ertugliflozin. Statistical analysis indicated a greater than 99% probability that the peak insulin concentration was lower when horses received ertugliflozin.

Together, these studies provide encouraging evidence that ertugliflozin can attenuate the increases in blood glucose and insulin that occur following IA corticosteroid administration. This finding is particularly relevant because corticosteroid-associated hyperinsulinaemia may contribute to laminitis risk.

However, both studies were conducted in horses that did not have insulin dysregulation. Consequently, the most important question remains unanswered: can ertugliflozin reduce post-corticosteroid insulin elevations in horses already suffering from EMS or ID, where the risk of laminitis is greatest?

Further research is now needed to determine whether this treatment strategy can safely protect high-risk horses. If successful, ertugliflozin could become an important tool that allows veterinarians to continue using corticosteroid joint injections while reducing the metabolic complications that may accompany them.

 

For more details,see:

1) Allen E Page,  Jenna L McPeek,  Ella McGreevy,  Sophia Carattini,  Emma N Adam.  

Treatment with ertugliflozin mitigates the hyperinsulinemic response to intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide. 

Equine Vet J.  2026.

https://doi.org/10.1002/evj.70150

 

2) Cara Darch, Timothy H. Hyndman, David Byrne, David Ian Rendle, Barny Fraser,

Ertugliflozin decreases the insulin spike in non-insulin dysregulated standardbred horses following intra-articular triamcinolone administration,

Domestic Animal Endocrinology, (2026) Vol 96,107016,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2026.107016

Free articles on equine infectious disease and Microbiology in EVJ Special Collection

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The March 2026 issue of Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) highlights major advances in equine infectious disease and microbiology, with a Special Collection dedicated to the equine microbiome. The issue, which is free to access for 12 weeks, features 30 research papers spanning a wide range of diseases, body systems, and pathogens. Many of the studies involve international collaboration, reflecting the global importance of managing infectious diseases in horses.

Equine infectious disease remains a key research focus for veterinarians and scientists because of its impact on horse health, welfare, and the equine industry. The special issue identifies three major themes: the importance of national disease surveillance programmes, the need for accurate and definitive diagnoses, and the value of comparing diseases across different animal species to better understand how pathogens behave.

Several studies focus on improvements in diagnostic techniques, particularly for equine fever, equine influenza, and gastrointestinal parasites. These advances aim to support faster detection of disease and enable earlier implementation of biosecurity measures, which can help reduce transmission between horses.

Research into gastrointestinal diseases also features prominently. Studies explore the use of metabolic profiling to detect equine proliferative disease earlier in foals, investigate possible causes of colitis, and emphasise the importance of additional diagnostic testing for chronic hepatitis and liver failure in cases linked to hepacivirus infection. Together, these findings may support earlier intervention and improved disease management.

Antimicrobial resistance is another significant area of concern. One survey found that nearly 40% of hospitalised horses received at least one antimicrobial treatment. Research linked to colic surgery suggests that using antimicrobials for more than 24 hours after surgery is unnecessary for preventing complications, highlighting opportunities to reduce antibiotic use and slow the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Several papers examine diseases affecting multiple body systems. For example, updated guidance on equine botulism emphasises its importance as a differential diagnosis when horses show neurological signs. Other studies investigate multisystem diseases by comparing similar infections in other species, helping researchers better understand how diseases develop and present in horses.

Blood-related infectious diseases are also discussed. Two systematic reviews examine equine trypanosomiasis, focusing on its prevalence, management, and control strategies. Another study introduces a new diagnostic tool for detecting Theileria haneyi, a parasite associated with equine piroplasmosis, and reports the first evidence of its presence in China.

Regionally important diseases are highlighted through research on Hendra virus, which uses government and field data to study how domestic horses may act as bridging hosts for zoonotic pathogens. Another study shows that horses infected with African Horse Sickness virus can develop severe blood clotting disorders that cause significant bleeding. Research also suggests that equine encephalosis virus should be considered when diagnosing African Horse Sickness in regions where both diseases occur.

The issue also examines reproductive health, with one study linking Escherichia coli infection to reduced fertility in Thoroughbred broodmares. Another uses multi-omics technology to study nocardioform placentitis, proposing that the condition be renamed mucoid placentitis due to the variety of bacteria involved.

Respiratory disease research forms a major section, including several studies on strangles. Findings emphasise the importance of screening, quarantine, monitoring, and disease reporting to improve prevention. Additional studies investigate respiratory disease caused by Rhodococcus equi, equine influenza vaccination strategies, and the use of air sampling in stables as a non-invasive surveillance method for equine herpesvirus.

Other research explores infectious skin diseases and rare ulcerative conditions, demonstrating the importance of obtaining accurate diagnoses and comparing disease patterns across species when treatment data in horses is limited.

The Special Focus section also includes a dedicated collection on the equine microbiome, updating earlier research published in 2019. This collection highlights rapid progress in understanding the complex communities of microorganisms that influence equine health.

Overall, the research presented in this EVJ issue aims to improve disease detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. These advances are expected to strengthen equine welfare globally while supporting the livelihoods of communities that depend on horses for work and transport.

The Special Focus Issue is available here:

 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20423306/2026/58/2

Early allergen exposure protects Icelandic horses from developing midge-related allergy, Cornell study finds

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A long-term study of Icelandic horses housed at Cornell University has provided strong evidence
that early-life exposure to an allergen can prevent the development of allergy later on. The findings, published in Frontiers in Immunology, also shed light on similar processes in humans and lend support to long-standing theories about how the immune system learns to tolerate environmental challenges.

The research focused on hypersensitivity to Culicoides midges; tiny blood-feeding insects whose saliva contains proteins capable of triggering intense allergic reactions in horses. Affected animals may suffer from severe itchiness, hair loss, dermatitis, and, in extreme cases, weight loss. Icelandic horses are particularly vulnerable once they leave their native environment because Culicoides species do not exist in Iceland. As a result, horses exported later in life often encounter midges for the first time abroad and may develop what is commonly known as “sweet itch.”

Lead researcher Dr. Bettina Wagner, James Law Professor of Immunology at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, had long been intrigued by anecdotal reports from breeders. “The rumour was that adult Icelandic horses exported to Europe developed Culicoides allergy far more often than those bred there,” she explained. Later epidemiological studies confirmed these observations, prompting Wagner and her team to investigate when and why allergic reactions occur.

Their 13-year study followed several cohorts of related Icelandic horses living together under identical environmental conditions at Cornell. The crucial difference among groups lay in the timing of first exposure to Culicoides and whether foals received allergen-specific maternal antibodies. Since Culicoides do not exist in Iceland, the imported horses provided a uniquely “naïve” population, free from prior exposure.

The results were striking. Horses experiencing Culicoides bites for the first time in adulthood showedmthe highest rates of hypersensitivity. 62.5% went on to develop the characteristic eczema-like symptoms. When first exposed during adolescence, only 21.4% developed allergy. Yet none of the horses exposed from birth ever showed signs of Culicoides hypersensitivity, despite having a genetic predisposition: all full-siblings had at least one allergic parent.

These findings strongly support the idea that early exposure to an allergen can “train” the developing immune system to tolerate it. On the Cornell Chronicle website, Wagner explains that during early development, immune responses are more flexible and more capable of learning to recognise otherwise reactive substances as harmless. “Training of the immune system to develop tolerance against allergens early in life creates a specific ability to adjust to those allergens and recognise them as harmless,” she said. “The earlier it happens, the more successful it is.”

In humans, similar concepts underlie the well-known hygiene hypothesis - the observation that children raised in environments rich in microbes and animal exposures tend to have fewer allergies than those raised in more sanitized conditions. Because horses share many features of immune function with humans, the study contributes important evidence to understanding how early-life environmental contact shapes lifelong immune health.

The study also tested whether maternal antibodies, specifically allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG), played a role in determining allergy outcomes. Previous observations suggested that allergic mothers might pass IgE to their offspring, increasing the likelihood of allergy. However, the Cornell study found no such effect. Foals born to mares carrying Culicoides-specific IgE did not show higher allergy rates, nor did maternal antibodies appear to protect against or predispose foals to hypersensitivity.

By following the horses for at least nine years of repeated seasonal exposure, the researchers were able to firmly establish that early-life exposure, not maternal immunity, was the determining factor in whether hypersensitivity developed.

The work was led by first author Dr. Elisabeth Simonin, a postdoctoral researcher in Wagner’s laboratory, with collaborators from the University of Iceland, Cornell technicians, and veterinary students. The study was supported by the Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research, which funded both the importation of the Icelandic herd and their long-term maintenance.

For equine scientists, these results highlight the importance of developmental timing in immune system training and raise questions about how management practices, especially for horses moved between environments, may influence long-term health. More broadly, the research offers a powerful example of how equine models can advance understanding of allergy mechanisms relevant to multiple species, including humans.

For more details, see:

Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity
Frontiers in Immunology (2025)
Vol 16 . 1654693
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1654693

Effect of PPID on egg shedding after deworming

It has been suggested that horses with hormonal disorders, such as insulin dysregulation and
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), may be more susceptible to worm infections. 

Horses with PPID often have a weakened immune system, which can allow worms, such as cyathostomes, to thrive more easily compared to healthy horses. These horses may also not respond as effectively to standard deworming treatments due to their altered immune function.

 

A study conducted in Australia aimed to determine whether horses with PPID had increased strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) compared with control horses.

 

The study, led by Adelaina Horner, took place over a fourteen-week period and involved adult horses and ponies over eight years old in Victoria, Australia. All horses lived on pasture and had not been dewormed for at least three months prior to the study. A total of 45 privately owned horses and ponies met the criteria for inclusion, with 14 horses diagnosed with PPID and 31 serving as controls. PPID diagnosis was confirmed by elevated plasma ACTH concentrations (above 120 pg/mL) along with at least one clinical sign of the disorder.

 

All horses were dewormed with a standard dose of a commercially available ivermectin product. Faecal egg counts were taken before treatment and then every two weeks for 14 weeks. A FEC of 200 eggs per gram (EPG) or higher was used as the cutoff for significant worm burden.

 

The results showed that the egg reappearance period (ERP) after deworming was shorter in PPID horses, and cumulative FEC after deworming was higher in these horses. However, the researchers noted that some PPID horses consistently had no detectable eggs or low EPG (≤ 200) throughout the study, and this could not be explained by observed husbandry practices.

 

Worm eggs collected during the study were cultured in the laboratory, and examination of the larvae confirmed that all worms were cyathostomin species.

 

The researchers advise monitoring egg shedding before anthelmintic treatment in PPID horses, in line with sustainable worm management guidelines, as some PPID horses consistently showed low FEC results.

 

While hormonal disorders like PPID do not directly cause an increase in parasitic infections, they can impair the horse’s immune system and overall health, making them more vulnerable to worm infections and potentially reducing the effectiveness of treatments. Effective management of both the hormonal disorder and parasitic infections is crucial for maintaining the health of affected horses.

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Strongyle egg shedding and egg reappearance periods in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction

Adelaina Horner, Nicholas J. Bamford, Michael J. Stear, David Piedrafita, Abdul Jabbar, Kristopher J. Hughes, Charles M. El-Hage, Sarah Preston

Veterinary Parasitology (2024) Vol 328, 110176

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110176

Inflammatory marker increase after routine vaccination

 Routine vaccination can lead to a temporary increase in Serum Amyloid A (SAA), according to a recent study in the USA.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase protein, meaning its levels in the blood increase rapidly in response to infection, injury, or stress. Due to its rapid increase during inflammatory conditions, SAA is often used in horses as a biomarker to assess inflammation or infection 

 

Researchers at the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, conducted a two-part study to monitor the response to vaccination. Cassandra M. Baumgarten was the lead author of the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

 

The study included a total of 36 clinically normal horses. Twenty-eight horses received routine booster vaccinations recommended for horses in the southern states of the USA (rabies, tetanus, West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, equine herpesvirus-1/-4, and influenza). Eight horses received placebo injections of saline.

 

The research team conducted daily clinical examinations of the horses, which included measuring their temperature and collecting blood samples to monitor serum amyloid A (SAA) levels for the first ten days after vaccination.

 

They found that, compared to the control group, vaccinated horses had higher SAA concentrations for up to ten days after vaccination, generally returning to normal by the ninth day. About 85.7% of the horses had their SAA levels return to normal within ten days of vaccination.

 

Fever (temperature >38.4°C) was observed in 78.6% of the horses after vaccination, but there was no correlation between fever and SAA concentration.

 

The authors suggest that elevated SAA levels for 10 days after vaccination and fever lasting 12 to 24 hours cannot be used as indicators of illness. They recommend that clinicians, when assessing a patient’s condition after vaccination, should not rely on just one or two clinical signs but rather evaluate the patient as a whole. They also state that measuring SAA for 10 days post-vaccination cannot reliably indicate illness.

 

Based on their findings that routine vaccination increases SAA concentrations, the authors suggest that when advising horse owners about travel or competition, practitioners should recommend a recovery period following vaccination.

 

They also suggest the need for further studies to investigate the effect of travel or competition on the antibody response.

 

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Baumgarten, C. M., Delph Miller, K. M., Davis, E. G., Beard, L. A., Blevins, C. A., Wottowa, M., Hill, M., & Larson, R. L. (2024). 

Serum amyloid A increases following routine vaccination of healthy adult horses. 

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 262(9), 1181-1187. 

https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.04.0244

Bacterial gut diversity in TB foals improves future racing performance

 The composition of gut bacteria in one-month-old Thoroughbred foals can predict their future
athletic performance, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. Foals with lower bacterial diversity at 28 days old were also found to have a significantly increased risk of respiratory disease later in life.

 Researchers from Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine and School of Bioscience, led by Professor Chris Proudman, examined the gut bacterial composition of Thoroughbred foals bred for flat racing and its impact on their long-term health and performance.

The three-year cohort study explored the interactions between early-life gut bacterial communities, health outcomes in later life, and athletic performance on the racetrack. The findings were published in Scientific Reports.

 

The study involved analysing 438 faecal samples from 52 foals, tracking their respiratory, gastrointestinal, orthopaedic, and soft-tissue health from birth to three years of age. The researchers also analysed data on race performance, including finishing positions, official ratings, and prize money earnings as measures of athletic performance.

 

Professor Chris Proudman, Professor of Veterinary Clinical Science at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said:   "Minimising the risk of disease and injury is important for the welfare of racehorses, and maximising their athletic potential is important for their owners. We have found that gut health, in particular the health of gut bacterial communities very early in life, exerts a profound and enduring impact on racehorse health and performance."

 

The study found a positive association between athletic performance and higher faecal bacterial diversity at one month old. Specifically, a higher abundance of the bacteria Anaeroplasmataceae was linked to a higher official rating, and increased levels of Bacillaceae at 28 days old were associated with better race placings.

 

The researchers concluded that the gut bacterial composition in the first months of life influences the risk of specific diseases and athletic performance up to three years old. Foals with lower bacterial diversity at one month old had a significantly higher risk of developing respiratory disease, which was also associated with a higher relative abundance of the bacteria Pseudomonadaceae.

 

Interestingly, the study revealed that foals treated with antibiotics during their first month of life had significantly lower bacterial diversity at 28 days old compared to those not treated with antibiotics. These foals also earned significantly less prize money and had a higher rate of respiratory disease later in life.

 

Professor Roberto La Ragione, co-investigator from the School of Bioscience at the University of Surrey, commented, "While antibiotics are essential for treating infections and ensuring the long-term health of foals, their use must be carefully managed. Our study demonstrates that antibiotic treatment can disrupt the gut microbiome with long-term consequences for health and performance. The next phase of our research will focus on minimizing this disruption when antibiotics are necessary."

 

Additionally, the researchers found that low gut bacterial diversity in early life is associated with an increased risk of soft-tissue and orthopaedic issues later on. They believe these health impacts are likely related to immunological priming, though the underlying reasons for the observed negative effects on racehorse performance are still not fully understood.

 

Dr. Kirsten Rausing, Chairman of the International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation and study sponsor through her ALBORADA Trust, remarked, "This ground-breaking study has identified the importance of gut health in our very young foals. As breeders, if we can get this right, we will produce foals that will be healthier, and that will grow into more successful racehorses."  

 

Ongoing research aims to develop novel probiotics to enhance foal gut health in early life and to investigate how antibiotics can be used while preserving gut health.

 

The researchers conclude: “For the first time, this study demonstrates a relationship between early-life gut bacterial communities and subsequent athletic performance that has implications for athletes of all species including humans.”

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing

J. Leng, C. Moller-Levet, R. I. Mansergh, R. O’Flaherty, R. Cooke, P. Sells, C. Pinkham,O.  Pynn, C. Smith, Z. Wise, R. Ellis, A. Couto Alves, R. La Ragione and C. Proudman 

Scientific Reports (2024) vol 14, Article number: 17124 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6 

Lyophilized colostrum: a viable alternative for foals?

 Colostrum is essential for a foal to have a good start in life. The first milk produced by mammals
after giving birth, colostrum is rich in antibodies, growth factors, and nutrients essential for newborn development. Foals require good quality colostrum in the first hours of life to ensure an adequate transfer of passive immunity.

Stud farms often maintain a supply of high-quality colostrum by collecting and freezing some from donor mares.

However, individual mare owners have more limited options. Commercial products like dried colostrum powder, usually made from processed cow colostrum, can provide some level of IgG to foals, but are generally not considered equivalent to mare colostrum in terms of quality and effectiveness.

 

Further research and development of equine-specific colostrum products, including lyophilized (freeze-dried) mare colostrum, may offer better alternatives for ensuring foal health and immunity.

 

Research by Thatyane Carla de Lima and colleagues, in Brazil, compared the quality of equine colostrum after freezing and lyophilisation, evaluating IgG concentration (using Simple Radial Immunodiffusion, SRID, and Brix refractometry) and the physicochemical characteristics of equine colostrum post-freezing and lyophilization. A report of their work is published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

 

Thirty-one pregnant Quarter Horse mares participated in the study. Colostrum collected from these mares was divided into two samples: one for freezing and one for lyophilization. 

 

The research team measured the IgG concentration of both frozen and lyophilized colostrum by SRID, (the reference standard test), and Brix refractometry (a technique widely used for estimating colostrum quality in cattle.)   

 

Additionally, they evaluated properties such as pH, total protein (TP), fat, lactose, salts, total solids (TS), and density. They also tested the effect of reconstitution on the lyophilized colostrum.

 

They found no significant differences (P > 0.05) in IgG, fat, lactose, salts, TS, density, and pH between colostrum samples before and after lyophilization. Lyophilization resulted in a minor reduction (6.55%) in IgG concentration as measured by SRID.

 

 However, they did find a significant difference in the average Brix score and total protein, indicating that lyophilization alters some colostrum characteristics.

 

The results suggest lyophilization as a viable method for mare colostrum conservation, to ensure foals receive the essential nutrients and antibodies for a healthy start. It offers practical benefits, including long-term storage without refrigeration and easy transportation.

 

The authors suggest that further research, such as in vivo studies to evaluate the product's acceptance and the absorption of immunoglobulins, is recommended. 

 

For more details, see:

de Lima TC, de Sobral GG, de França Queiroz AES, et al.

Characterization of lyophilized equine colostrum. 

J Equine Vet Sci. 2024;132:104975. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104975

Study: Curly Horses promote immune tolerance in allergic individuals

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 American Bashkir Curly Horses are claimed to be hypoallergenic, but this has not been clinically proven. 

The origin of these horses remains uncertain, with their additional name "Bashkir" stemming from the misconception that they were originally imported from Russia to America. Some theories suggest a Spanish immigrant origin in South America.

Established in 2010, Curly Farm Klappholz combines Dr. Wolfgang Mitlehner's medical practice specialising in internal medicine, allergology, pulmonary, and bronchial medicine with a holiday home and riding school featuring Curly horses. This facility provides a safe environment for allergic riders to interact with and ride Curly Horses.

 

Dr. Mitlehner has conducted studies on allergic patients who have ridden Curly horses to investigate their allergic responses to these animals.The work culminated in a report published in the journal Pneumologie

 

This collaborative study involved Susanne Mitlehner from Curly Farm Klappholz, Dr. Wolfgang Mitlehner, Alexandra Mitlehner, Hans Caspar Mitlehner, Peter Stoll, and Ines Swoboda from the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, along with Monika Reissmann from Humboldt-University of Berlin.

 

The team examined the impact of exposure to Curly Horses on 141 patients allergic to horses by assessing their lung function and nasal patency during interactions with the animals. They discovered that repeated engagement with Curly Horses, including activities such as riding and grooming, resulted in a reduction in allergic riders' reactivity. This improvement was evidenced by enhancements in FEV1, PEF, and PNIF measurements.

 

PNIF, FEV1, and PEF are standard measures used to evaluate nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis, and lung function, particularly in conditions like asthma.

 

Repeated interactions with Curly Horses, including riding and grooming, resulted in decreased reactivity among allergic riders, as evidenced by improvements in FEV1, PEF, and PNIF measurements.

 

Further visits, involving extended periods of riding totalling up to 40 hours or more, continued to reduce reactivity to Curly Horses. It's noteworthy that allergic reactions to horses occurred in only 72 out of 1312 riding hours, with the majority occurring within the initial ten hours of riding.

 

In a subset of 41 out of the 141 patients, additional investigation explored whether repeated exposure to Curly Horses could induce tolerance to other horses. These patients participated in a tolerance induction study and underwent annual testing for horse allergy using a nasal provocation test. The results revealed that exposure to Curly Horses led to immune tolerance to other horses in 88% of patients who completed the study.

 

Dr Mitlehner elaborates “To understand the mechanism causing hypoallergenicity, we performed IgE immunoblots to determine whether Curly Horse hairs contain IgE binding proteins.” 

 

IgE immunoblots play a significant role in allergy diagnostics. By examining the pattern of IgE antibodies adhering to various allergens on the membrane, clinicians can identify the specific allergens to which a patient is sensitized. This information is vital for diagnosing allergies and formulating suitable treatment plans, such as allergen-specific immunotherapy (allergy shots) or recommendations for allergen avoidance.

 

The study revealed no differences in IgE reactivity between Curly and non-Curly Horses. Additionally, patients participating in the immune tolerance induction study did not exhibit reduced IgE reactivity to hairs from Curly or non-Curly Horses, despite having developed tolerance.

 

“However, we did find increasing levels of anti-horse IgG antibodies in the study patients.” Dr Mitleehner added.

 

“Overall, our data strongly suggests that continuous exposure to Curly Horses can induce immune tolerance, rendering these patients non-reactive to horses. The reason for the reduced clinical allergenicity of Curly Horses remains unclear, but the data suggest that blocking IgG antibodies may be of importance for immune tolerance development.”

 

For more details, see:

 

Horse allergy: Curly Horses can mediate immune tolerance

Alexandra Mitlehner, Caspar Mitlehner, Monika Reißmann, Peter Stoll, Ines Swoboda, Wolfgang Mitlehner

Pneumologie (2024); 78(01): 47-57
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2101-9533

 

https://www.curlyfarm.de

 

Research funding announced

The Morris Animal Foundation has announced funding for new equine studies including:

Understanding the Early Stages of Equine Herpesvirus Infections Researchers will study EHV-1 to better understand how the disease develops and spreads. New information from this study will help inform the development of better diagnostics and treatments as well as improve EHV-1 control measures.

Exploring a New Vaccine Strategy for Strangles

Researchers will investigate the safety and effectiveness of a novel vaccine to protect horses against strangles, a serious infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus equi. A safer and more effective vaccine strategy against strangles will greatly improve the prevention of this global equine health challenge.

Learning More About How the Immune System Works

Researchers will gather baseline data on equine monocytes, a type of white blood cell important for fighting off infections and reducing inflammation. Data collected is anticipated to provide real-time insight into the processes occurring within critically ill horses.

"Each of these studies has the potential to improve the lives of horses in significant ways, and we are very proud to support these innovative researchers in their efforts," said Dr. Janet Patterson-Kane, Morris Animal Foundation Chief Scientific Officer.

The Morris Animal Foundation is one of the world's largest non-profit organizations that funds scientific studies to advance the health of animals. Since 1959, it has invested over $20 million in more than 550 equine health studies.