Why Test?
Equine allergies are relatively common and can affect horses of any breed, age, or sex. Allergic reactions involving the skin—particularly those associated with insect bites—are a major cause of discomfort. Conditions such as Sweet Itch (Insect Bite Hypersensitivity) are diagnosed by excluding other common causes of pruritus and dermatitis. Once confirmed, identifying the specific insect allergens affecting your horse allows for targeted management and improved quality of life.
Key Benefits
- Fast and accurate identification of relevant insect allergens
- Non-invasive sample collection
- Not affected by most medications
- Highly reproducible and standardized procedure
Insects Tested
Results are provided for each of the following six insect genera, with reactivity scored from 0 to 5 using the HERBU scoring system:
| Genus | Species | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysops spp. | Includes multiple species of Chrysops (deer flies) | |
| Culex spp. | Includes multiple mosquito species of Culex | |
| Tabanus spp. | Includes multiple horse fly species of Tabanus | |
| Stomoxys | calcitrans | Stable fly: specific to Stomoxys calcitrans |
| Culicoides spp. | includes Culicoides nubeculosus | Includes multiple species of Culicoides, notably C. nubeculosus (sweet itch in horses) |
| Blattella | germanica | Cockroach: specific to Blattella germanica (German cockroach) |
Allergen-specific IgE is measured, ensuring precise detection with no cross-reactivity from IgG or CCDs.
Sample Requirements
- 3 mL serum
or
-
6 mL whole blood (in serum tube)
Turnaround time
- 2-7 working days