[Investigation of the prevalence of summer eczema in Icelandic horses in northern Germany].
An epidemiological study on summer eczema (SE) was performed in 490 Icelandic horses from 24 stud farms located in Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The study revealed a prevalence of summer eczema of 29.8 %. Horses imported from Iceland were affected with a frequency of 71.9 %, whereas horses born in Germany and other countries had a prevalence of 15.6 % and 27.3 %. Mares (33.1 %) and geldings (29.1 %) were more often affected by summer eczema than stallions with 15.5 %. The most common sites of summer eczema were mane and tail. Five to eight years old horses were more severely affected by SE than younger or older horses. Piebald horses showed higher degrees of SE than grey horses. The high prevalence of SE in Icelandic horses kept in Germany was due to imported horses from Iceland particularly horses imported at an age of seven to 15 years were at an extremely high risk to SE (96.4 %). The prevalence of SE significantly increased with higher age. Chestnut and grey horses born in Germany were prone to a lower risk to SE than bay, black or piebald horses. In horses imported from Iceland, a higher inbreeding coefficient was significantly related to a lower prevalence of SE. The most efficient measure recommended for reduction of SE in Germany would be to abandon imports of Icelandic horse from Iceland.
Lange
Susanne
S
Institut für Tierzucht und Vererbungsforschung der Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover.
Hamann
Henning
H
Deegen
Eckehard
E
Ohnesorge
Bernhard
B
Distl
Ottmar
O
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors