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Discussion on Research Summary: Do Culicoides Seek Out Allergic Horses?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 - 8:45 am:
In short, No. This study also backs up the notion that letting horses out during the day and avoiding dawn and dusk does greatly reduce exposure.
DrO
: Vet J. 2008 Oct;178(1):91-7. Epub 2007 Aug 28.
Culicoides species attracted to horses with and without insect hypersensitivity.
van der Rijt R, van den Boom R, Jongema Y, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.
Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
The aims of this study were to determine (1) which species of Culicoides is most commonly attracted to horses, (2) whether horses suffering insect hypersensitivity attract more Culicoides spp. than unaffected horses, and (3) the times when Culicoides spp. are most active. Horses affected by insect hypersensitivity and unaffected horses were placed inside mosquito netting tents for 30 min at different times of the day. All Culicoides spp. trapped inside the tents were collected and identified. C. obsoletus was the most common species found, followed by C. pulicaris. Healthy horses attracted slightly more midges than horses that were affected with insect hypersensitivity. All of the Culicoides species were most active at sunset, less so at sunrise and very few or no midges were trapped in the afternoon or at night.
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