Progress With The Treatment of Sweet Itch
By Professor John Stanford Scientific Director, BioEos Ltd.
Sweet-itch is a problem caused by an excessive reaction to the bites of midges. It begins with an intolerably itchy allergic reaction to the saliva of the midge, which is then followed by an autoimmune over-reaction as the horse’s immune system attempts to right the original wrong. During this process thickening and ulceration of the skin occurs and this only returns to normal at the end of the midge season. Both the allergy and the autoimmunity are caused by a dysregulation of the immune system to a mode known as Th2. Treatments which causes the immune system to return to the positive mode, known as Th1, are likely to be successful. This has already been accomplished in human medicine in eczema and asthma, using a very similar approach.
Over the past 5-6 years we have been working on developing a simple and safe product, based on a suspension of heat-killed bacilli of a carefully selected species. This modulates the immune response from the dysregulation that leads to sweet-itch to a more normal response to midge bites. This also corrects problems with the subsequent tissue-healing process. One of our difficulties has been to work out the optimal schedule for use of the treatment. We started with intradermal injections, then capsules being given orally at monthly intervals, but now think it is better for the capsules to be given fortnightly. The treatment is extremely safe with few reports of even minor side effects.
We have found from analysis of owner’s end-of-year assessment forms, submitted during the last three years of trials, that some 90% of horses show an improvement in their symptoms. In 70% of horses there is a 50% or more improvement and in 10% of horses a 90% or more improvement. There is also some evidence that a second year of treatment may bring more benefit.
Contact the National Sweet Itch Centre to purchase capsules.
BioEos Sweet Itch Capsules Available Now (2010)
All owners of horses, ponies and donkeys with Sweet Itch have been eagerly awaiting results from the 2009 trial, which involved owners feeding their horse one small palatable capsule every fortnight throughout the Sweet Itch season.
The treatment, developed by Prof John Stanford and his team at BioEos, has been co-ordinated, since the start, by The National Sweet Itch Centre.
Now, after six years of trials, licensed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and involving over 700 horses, ponies and donkeys, the results have been assessed and look extremely promising.
Early studies had involved horses being given the re-agent by injection; a procedure which necessitated the services of a veterinarian, but the development programme has now determined a suitable oral formulation that owners can administer themselves.
The final results (see Professor Stanford’s report) were greeted with enthusiasm by those of us at The Sweet Itch Centre. The capsules can be purchased from us and are available now. The price for a season’s treatment of forty capsules has been set by BioEos at £200 plus 17.5% VAT, a total of £235 for a year’s treatment.
We hope that by next year it will be possible for owners to purchase capsules in smaller quantities e.g., to treat for three months, six months or a year. Owners should contact the Centre on 01352 771718 for more information and to order.
Jennifer Greaves, The National Sweet Itch Centre
