HYPERSENSITIVITY TO DOG ALLERGENS (CLINICAL CASES)

HYPERSENSITIVITY TO DOG ALLERGENS (CLINICAL CASES) M. A. Lykova Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, KIA «Forpost», Kyiv, Ukraine Abstract. The aim of the study: to analyze the clinical cases of sensitization to dog allergens and tactics of management of patients in accordance with the results of component allergodiagnostics. Materials and methods of research. Analysis of these case histories of three patients, the results of their clinical, laboratory and functional studies. Research results. In all clinical cases included in this study, patients had complaints of animal allergy symptoms, confirmed by skin prick tests. However, the results of component allergodiagnostics revealed differences in the profile of sensitization to the respective allergens. For example, patient №1 was sensitized to the canine allergen Can f5, a urinary kallikrein found only in male dogs, as well as the minor component Can f3, which may cross-react with serum albumin from mammalian meat and milk. Patient №2 showed primary sensitization to dog allergens and cross-hypersensitivity to cat allergens due to lipocalins. Treatment tactics were chosen for both patients — allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) with dog allergens. In patient №3, primary sensitization to the main allergen of the dog was confirmed, which makes it possible to predict the high efficiency of ASIT. Conclusions. Component (molecular) allergodiagnostics is an important method of determining the sensitization profile of patients with hypersensitivity to dog allergens, which allows to establish a correct diagnosis, choose treatment tactics and predict the effectiveness of ASIT in each case. Key words: component allergodiagnostics, dog allergens, hypersensitivity, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma.

Laboratory animal allergy is preventable in modern research facilities

BackgroundHistorical data suggest 15% of laboratory animal workers develop IgE sensitisation and 10% symptoms of laboratory animal allergy (LAA), including occupational asthma. Individually ventilated cages (IVCs) are replacing conventional open cages; we sought to evaluate their impact on the development of LAA.MethodsWe surveyed 750 laboratory animal workers and measured airborne Mus m 1 (mouse allergen) levels in seven UK institutions. We compared the prevalence of sensitisation to mouse proteins (by specific IgE assay or skin prick test) and of work-related allergic symptoms in IVC-only and open cage units.ResultsFull-shift Mus m 1 levels were lower in IVC than open cage units (geometric mean 1.00 (95% CI 0.73–1.36) versus 8.35 (95% CI 6.97–9.95) ng·m−3; p<0.001), but varied eight-fold across the IVC units (geometric mean range 0.33–4.12 ng·m−3). Primary analyses on data from 216 participants with ≤3 years exposure to mice revealed a lower prevalence of sensitisation in those working in IVC units compared with conventional cage units (2.4% (n=2) versus 9.8% (n=13); p=0.052). Sensitisation in IVC units varied from 0% to 12.5%; the use of fitted respiratory protection was less common in IVC units where prevalence of sensitisation was higher. Work-related allergy symptoms were more frequently reported by mouse-sensitised individuals (46.7% versus 10.9%; p<0.001) and only by those working in open cage units.ConclusionIn contemporary practice, LAA is now largely preventable with the use of IVC systems and the judicious use of appropriate respiratory protection.