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Genetic analysis of insect bite hypersensitivity (summer eczema) in Icelandic horses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2008

S. Eriksson ,
K. Grandinson ,
W. F. Fikse ,
L. Lindberg ,
S. Mikko ,
H. Broström ,
R. Frey ,
M. Sundquist  and
G. Lindgren
S. Eriksson*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
K. Grandinson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
W. F. Fikse
Affiliation:
Interbull Centre, Box 7023, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
L. Lindberg
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
S. Mikko
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
H. Broström
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
R. Frey
Affiliation:
Norsholms Animal Hospital, 602 37 Norrköping, Sweden
M. Sundquist
Affiliation:
Östra Greda Research Group, 387 91 Borgholm, Sweden
G. Lindgren
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
*
E-mail: Susanne.Eriksson@hgen.slu.se
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Abstract

There is a lack of knowledge about the genetic background of eczema due to insect bite hypersensitivity, also called summer eczema, in horses. The condition is known in several horse breeds and countries and it causes reduced welfare of the horse and economic losses to the owner. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for summer eczema in Swedish-born Icelandic horses. A questionnaire was sent to owners of horses sired by stallions with more than 50 offspring born in Sweden between 1991 and 2001. Variance components of summer eczema classified as healthy, mild, moderate or severe were estimated using the threshold methodology with sire models. In addition, summer eczema was analysed as a binary trait (healthy v. affected). The analyses included 1250 horses sired by 33 stallions. The prevalence of summer eczema was 8%, with a range of 0% to 30% in different paternal half-sib groups. Offspring of dams suffering from eczema had a higher risk of developing eczema. The heritability for severity of summer eczema was estimated at 0.3 (s.d. < 0.2) with a threshold sire model. In contrast to the age of the horse, different geographic areas and gender were significantly associated with severity of the eczema. We conclude that genetic selection could decrease the prevalence of summer eczema among Swedish-born Icelandic horses. The amount and quality of data are, however, crucial for the possibility to introduce a genetic evaluation of summer eczema. The symptoms should be classified in several classes according to severity, and this classification could be made by the horse owner.

Keywords

genetic parametersIcelandic horsesinsect bitessummer eczemasweet itch
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , March 2008 , pp. 360 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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