The examination of biophysical parameters of the skin in Polish Konik horses.
Authors: Cekiera Agnieszka, Popiel Jarosław, Siemieniuch Marta, Jaworski Zbigniew, Slowikowska Malwina, Siwinska Natalia, Zak Agnieszka, Niedzwiedz Artur
Journal: PloS one
Summary
Polish Konik horses, a primitive breed valued for their hardiness and genetic preservation, had their skin biophysical properties characterised for the first time at scale in this 2021 investigation, establishing baseline reference values across five anatomical sites (lips, ears, prosternum, neck and chest). Researchers used non-invasive multiprobe adapter technology to measure transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, pH, skin temperature and melanin content in mares, stallions and geldings, identifying several sex-dependent variations in these parameters. Significant differences emerged between sexes: mares exhibited lower transepidermal water loss at the lips than stallions (P = 0.023), higher stratum corneum hydration at the neck (P = 0.037), whilst stallions showed more acidic skin pH on the neck compared to mares (P = 0.037) and lower skin temperatures than geldings (P = 0.049). For equine practitioners, these findings establish critical reference data that enables detection of pathological skin changes and objective assessment of dermatological treatments in this breed, moving beyond subjective clinical evaluation and potentially informing breed-specific management strategies and medication efficacy studies.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Baseline biophysical skin parameters now established for Polish Konik horses enable better assessment of skin disease and medication effects in this breed
- •Sex-related differences in skin properties (pH, hydration, temperature, cornification) should be considered when evaluating individual horses clinically
- •Non-invasive skin measurement devices can now be used as objective assessment tools for dermatological conditions in this primitive horse breed
Key Findings
- •Transepidermal water loss differed significantly between mares and stallions (P=0.023) and stallions and geldings (P=0.009) at the lips
- •Corneometry values were significantly higher in mares compared to stallions at the neck (P=0.037) and in mares/geldings compared to stallions at the prosternum (P=0.037 and P=0.018)
- •Skin pH on the neck was significantly higher in stallions than mares (P=0.037)
- •Skin temperature was significantly higher in geldings than stallions (P=0.049)