Immunotherapy for Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH)
Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), also known as summer eczema, is the most common skin allergy compromising health and welfare of horses worldwide. IBH is caused by the bites of midges, mainly from the Culicoides obsoletus complex. In horses that develop IBH, the bites of these midges induce an allergic reaction that results in intense itch, swelling, hair loss and thickening of the skin. Secondary wounds and even self-mutilation occur when horses scratch to relieve their itch.
Unfortunately there is no curative treatment for IBH. For this, within this project we work on immunotherapies that aim to cure IBH, based on the understanding of the immune mechanisms behind this allergy.