The Wagner lab studies Icelandic horses that have been imported to the United States directly from Iceland. Due to strict importation regulations, certain pathogens and insects are not present on the island of Iceland. Specifically, Iceland does not have any Culicoides species (a midge with salivary allergens that often result in equine allergy) or Equine Herpes Virus Type I (EHV-1). The Wagner lab utilizes Icelandic horses as a model for equine immunology research for two reasons:
Icelandic horses brought to Culicoides-inhabited regions, such as the Northeast United States, have a 50–70% chance of developing allergy, while those born in a region with Culicoides are only 10% likely to become allergic. The Wagner lab works with horses in both Iceland and the United States to study the immune cells involved in allergy development before, during, and after clinical signs arise.
The Wagner lab herd is isolated from exposure to all other horses. Therefore, the Wagner lab heard remains EHV-1-naïve until vaccinated. This provides the unique opportunity to design vaccines for EHV-1 that will produce the longest lasting memory possible.