Allergens in dog extracts: Implication for diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Background: Five to ten percent of the population in affluent countries are allergic to dog. Diagnosis and treatment is based on allergen extracts from natural sources where composition and concentration are poorly defined.Objective: We aimed to quantify six dog allergens (Can f 1-6) in commercial skin prick test (SPT) solutions and to determine individual allergen profiles in dogs. Method:The allergen content of SPT solutions from five vendors and allergen source material from three anatomical sites were analyzed. Fur and saliva samples were collected from a mixed population of 120 dogs. Can f 1-6 were quantified by inhibition ELISA using purified recombinant or natural allergens and polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. Allergenicity was analyzed by basophil activation test.

Sublingual allergen immunotherapy with recombinant dog allergens prevents airway hyperresponsiveness in a model of asthma marked by vigorous TH2 and TH17 cell responses

“…The model proposed here uses natural extracts from dog dander and epithelium without additional adjuvants in order to recapitulate the typical exposure of people in society. The downsides of such an approach are the often varying levels of allergen content between different batches and suppliers (Wintersand et al, 2019) and the potential effects of unknown components of the extracts, which can make it difficult to compare results across the world.…”

Evaluation of Skin Prick-Test Reactions for Allergic Sensitization in Dogs With Clinical Symptoms Compatible With Atopic Dermatitis. A Pilot Study

“…The observed results support the hypothesis that the coexistence between humans and dogs causes them to have sources of IgE sensitization in common; the frequencies found were similar to previous reports made in the tropics and the study area in humans (26,27) A critical aspect of the present study was the use of allergens with a known concentration. There is high variability in the commercially available SPT formulation, particularly of those composed of natural extracts (28). This fact could imply a bias in the results of clinical use of SPT formulations, because of its uncertainty in inducing the response of basophils to the stimuli, and the impossibility to achieve standardized levels of the allergen to be tested for an accurate diagnosis of the test (28).…”

“…There is high variability in the commercially available SPT formulation, particularly of those composed of natural extracts (28). This fact could imply a bias in the results of clinical use of SPT formulations, because of its uncertainty in inducing the response of basophils to the stimuli, and the impossibility to achieve standardized levels of the allergen to be tested for an accurate diagnosis of the test (28). Our results were obtained with well-known concentrations of allergens in a commercial preparation used for routine diagnosis in human SPT ( Table 2).…”

Highlights and recent developments in allergic diseases in EAACI journals (2019)

“…Diagnosis and treatment is based on allergen extracts from natural sources where composition and concentration are poorly defined. Six allergens from dog extracts were studied [20 ]. There is a great variation of dog allergens in natural extracts raising questions of source, sampling, processing and ultimately of standardization, and minimum allergen levels for accurate diagnosis and treatment.…”