Study of causes of Pityriasis in horses in provinces of Tehran, Alborz and Golestan

Pityriasis or dandruff is the presence of too many bran-like scales on the skin. According to the available information and based on previous studies, this complication exists in horse care and breeding centers in Tehran, Alborz and Golestan provinces with different frequencies. The aim of this study was to identify the causes of Pityriasis and its effective factors in horses of the mentioned provinces. The present study was performed on the population of horses in equestrian complexes of Tehran, Alborz and Golestan provinces. Based on history and clinical findings, horses with Pityriasis were identified and then the necessary samples were taken and sent to the relevant laboratories. In this study, 74 horses with Pityriasis were identified that mange (56.76%), insect bites hypersensitivity (24.32%) and ringworm (18.92%) were the most important causes of Pityriasis. Among possible affecting factors, breed, sex, age, insect control and density had no significant association but significant relationship (p<0.05) was recorded among season, sanitary conditions, type of accompanying lesion and animal bedding with Pityriasis. According to this study, mange is the most common cause of Pityriasis in horses in Tehran, Alborz and Golestan provinces. Pityriasis predominantly occurs in summer and the most common type of accompanying lesion is alopecia.