Medical records of 600 dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis were reviewed and evaluated with reference to history, geographical distribution, breed predilection, clinical signs and positive reactions to allergens as determined by intradermal skin testing (IDT) manufactured by Artuvetrin Laboratories ** . In 66.6% of dogs, the age of onset of atopic dermatitis was between 4 months and 3 years. Dogs living in the garden suburb of Budapest were more sensitive to house dust mites, fleas and moulds, and dogs from the western part of Hungary were more sensitive to weeds than to other allergens (p < 0.01). Positive reactions were most common to Dermatophagoides farinae followed by human dander. The breed distribution found in the present study was consistent with that reported in the literature, except for the breeds Hungarian Vizsla, Pumi, French bulldog, Doberman Pinscher and Bobtail which were over-represented among atopic dogs compared to the breed distribution of the general dog population of a large city in Hungary. Breeds with verified adverse reaction to food were Cocker spaniels, French bulldogs, Bullmastiffs, Bull terriers, St. Bernards, Tervurens, West Highland White terriers and American Staffordshire terriers (p < 0.05). The clinical signs of atopic dermatitis and their occurrence are in accordance with the data described in the literature.

These data suggest that recombinant Der f2 allergens may be as effective and show benefit faster than traditional allergen immunotherapy in European dogs sensitized to Df.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a genetically predisposed inflammatory and pruritic allergic skin disease with characteristic clinical features. New results on the pathogenesis and therapeutic aspects are discussed in this review. IgE-mediated hypersensitivity may be involved in the largest subset of atopic patients, yet there is another subset for which such involvement cannot be documented. Alterations in epidermal barrier function, priming of cutaneous antigen-presenting cells with IgE, intrinsic keratinocyte defects, and development of autoimmunity are also factors that contribute to the primary disease. Polymorphisms in regions of the genome that are of key importance to the inflammatory response contribute to the patient's clinical picture. Secondary infections, especially with Staphylococcus and yeast organisms, strongly modify or augment the inflammatory response, which changes over time. After the treatment of secondary infections and skin inflammation the avoidance of causal allergens would prevent relapse. Another causative therapy is the variously effective allergen-specific immunotherapy. The newest treatments for canine AD (cyclosporin A and tacrolimus) are highly effective at suppressing the allergic response and comparable to treatment with glucocorticoids. Canine AD presents a substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenge over a patient's lifetime, and no single treatment is universally effective.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of an intradermal skin test (IDST) with those of an allergen-specific IgE-ELISA in 210 dogs with atopic dermatitis. All the dogs had a clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and underwent an IDST. The sera of all dogs were analysed for allergen-specific IgE by ELISA using the monoclonal antibody D9 against dog IgE. IDST was used as the standard assay. In both methods, the following antigens provided a positive test result: Dermatophagoides farinae, Acarus siro, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, ragweed, mugwort and Lepidoglyphus destructor. ELISA had an overall sensitivity of 82.4% and an overall specificity of 93.8%. The overall accuracy of the ELISA was 91.3%. The evaluated monoclonal D9 ELISA was found to be a reliable tool for the diagnosis of those allergens that cause clinical atopy, and can be recommended for use in dogs when immunotherapy is a therapeutic option.

Total IgE serum levels are reduced during pregnancy in female dogs. However, results of one allergen-specific IgE test did not appear to be markedly altered by the reproductive cycle in healthy bitches.