Hereditary factor sweet itch

08oktober2008
Source: wageningenuniversiteit.nl
Sweet itch is regularly seen in horses that remain outdoors. In the Netherlands, ten to fifteen percent of the horses is affected. Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to the bite of a midge, a small mosquito of the Culicoides family.
When horses get an allergic reaction to the bite of midges, the itching is so severe that the animals can rub their tail and mane until they bleed.
Whether or not a horse is susceptible to become affected is partially hereditary. A PhD student of Wageningen University and Research Centre discovered that the genetic factor is large enough to prevent the condition within the population of Shetland ponies.
There is no effective cure for sweet itch. Animals are kept in the stable or covered with a special blanket. This prevents the midges from biting but does not decrease the susceptibility. A directed breeding program may therefore be the only solution to prevent sweet itch in Shetland ponies.