Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) also known as sweet itch
in the equestrian industry, is an allergic skin reaction in horses caused by biting
midges from the genus Culicoide and the black fly Simuliidae.
Clinical signs of IBH present with hair loss, alopecia,
lesions, blister pustules, and serous effusions. The areas of skin commonly
affected are the face, mane, tail, rump, and ventral midline which can lead to
secondary, and in some cases very severe microbial infections. The
microorganisms associated with IBH linked infections are the gram-negative
bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus
faecium, Streptococcus zooepidermicus, and Staphylococcus aureus, and the
Trichophyton fungi genus.
Research has shown protective horse blankets have a minimal
resistance against the proliferation of bacteria once the equine is bitten and
are limited in stopping the biting insects from penetrating the fabric layer.
However, there have been significant advancements in the use of natural fibres
for their antimicrobial properties and applied modifications using novel
nanomaterials within the medical field, wound healing, and fashion textiles.
This research will evaluate the performance of different
fabric structures made from selected natural fibres and explore the antimicrobial
potential of natural fibres against IBH-relevant microorganisms. The
antimicrobial activity of selected textiles will be enhanced using
antimicrobial nanomaterials and the long-term activity will be determined under
real-life conditions. The research aims to develop a textile sample with
enhanced antimicrobial activity to kill potentially pathogenic microorganisms
and provide technical specifications to allow for new product design in blanket
protection against IBH in equines.