>>> Ofeig doesn't have it. She was imported from Denmark. Is it only the >>> ones from Iceland that get it? Sue Coombes
In the USA, the percentage of imported Icelandic's who eventually get sweet itch (SE, whatever you call it) seems to be about 60-80% if they live in known SE-risk zones. I got that figure from Anneliese Virro, who has had more imported and domestic born Icelandic's east of the Mississippi than probably anyone else. She got her first Icelandic's around 1982. There's no exact map of SE-risk zones however, but most of the area east of the Mississippi River seem to be "at risk", with some spots west too. In domestic-born Icelandic's, the risk of SE seems to be no higher than with any other domestic-born horse. That said, Tivar happens to be one of the unlucky domestic-borns. In my part of NC and in much of the USA, SE is VERY rare in domestic-born horses. Of course, there are cases, but nothing approaching the 60-80% rate in imported Icelandic's. I think the vets I use only have one, maybe two suspected case of sweet itch in their entire practice. Interestingly enough, I DO remember reading this about sweet itch in the USA before Tivar went to Florida to live: while SE is pretty uncommon in most of the USA, it's probably most common in Florida. I assumed that would mean in the more tropical areas of South Florida, but Janice said her vet told her earlier this year that her part of Florida is one of the worst areas of the USA - I think that's what he told Janice, but I'm sure she'll correct me if I'm wrong. But, because it's much more common there, still doesn't make it exactly "common." None of Janice's other horses have it. And, now, looking back when hindsight is 20-20, Tivar was born and spent much of his life in the general San Francisco bay area, near Bodega Bay. He lived here for only six months before he went to live with Janice in the panhandle. I guess, when you stop to think about it, moving from that part of California to Florida is about as dramatic a climate change as you can make in the continental USA, in the context of bug prevalence. Since he was only here for six months the first time, we will never know if he would have gotten it here had he stayed longer, or if was only the longer and more severe bug season that make it show up with Janice. I also wonder if he'd had a longer period here to gradually adjust his immune system if he might have reacted less severely in Florida. We'll never know of course, but these are just some ideas for people to watch and think about in the future. Trausti was born at Saga California ranch, and had lived here in NC for over three years with itchines no worse than any horse. I never even used a fly mask for him. I DID have to use a fly mask for Tivar the one summer he was here. Was that significant? I don't know. I have to use a fly mask for Saga and Maja, but that's all they've ever needed. They don't have the SE symptoms at all - they get the infected eyes instead, which I believe comes from black fly eggs, not from gnats. Since Trausti had a longer time to grow accustomed to NC insects with no adverse reactions, I feel very optimistic that he will be fine with Janice...in every sense. :) Karen Thomas, NC
