Autoimmune disorders in horses: the role of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity

Abstract

Autoimmune disorders are exaggerated immunologic responses to harmless antigens. The incidences of these conditions in animals specifically horses are on the increase. Autoimmune skin disorders of horses such as multi-systemic eosinophilic epitheliotrophic disease (MEED) and Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are triggered by insect bite hypersensitivity principally due to Culicoides and Simulium species respectively. Other relatively uncommon skin disorders of horses include pemphigus vulgaris, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, bullous pemphigoid, systemic lupus erythematosus, and erythema multiforme. The roles of risk factors such as autoantibodies and changes associated with age in the immune system of equines such as immunosenescence and inflamm-aging, and the diagnosis, treatment, and management of some major autoimmune diseases of horses are discussed in this review. Additionally, we reviewed recent information on autoimmune thrombocytopenia in equines