Midges harm horses too
It's not just humans that the midge hurts. Midge bites cause sweet-itch, an allergic reaction which affects around 5% of all horses, ponies and donkeys in the UK.
Symptoms include severe itching, hair loss, skin thickening and flaky dandruff and in some cases weeping sores - exudative dermatitis - which can lead to secondary infections.
Symptoms include severe itching, hair loss, skin thickening and flaky dandruff and in some cases weeping sores - exudative dermatitis - which can lead to secondary infections.
The disease is a delayed hypersensitivity to insect bites and results in an over-vigorous response by the animal's immune system. In the process of repelling invading insect saliva the horse attacks some of its own skin cells 'by mistake' and the resulting cell damage causes the symptoms of sweet-itch.
The condition is serious and in the UK is classified as an unsoundness and therefore should be declared when a horse is sold.
By diminishing the local midge population with the Midgeater, owners of horses and ponies can reduce the chance of sweet-itch affecting their animals. If a horse with sweet-itch is stabled a Midgeater® operating outside the stable door should reduce the chance of midges entering the stable and biting the affected horse.
Sweet-itch information kindly provided by www.sweet-itch.co.uk
