Icelandic Horses Are Teaching Us Big Lessons About Allergies

Researchers found that Icelandic horses exposed to Culicoides biting midges early in life were dramatically less likely to develop allergic disease later on. In fact, horses exposed from birth never developed the severe itchy skin condition known as insect bite hypersensitivity. Meanwhile, 62.5 percent of horses first exposed as adults went on to develop an eczema like reaction complete with dermatitis, hair loss, and relentless pruritus.