Early exposure to pets: Good or bad?

Bufford, Jeremy D.; Gern, James E.

doi:10.1007/s11882-007-0057-4

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The relationship between exposure and sensitization to allergens from companion animals is not clear, and there are insufficent data to recommend for, or against, the presence of a pet in the home unless the child has become sensitized to the pet species 8,[14][15][16] .…”

Section: Companion Animal Allergensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global strategy for the diagnosis and management of asthma in children 5 years and younger

Pedersen

Hurd

Lemanske

et al. 2010

Pediatric Pulmonology

267

207

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Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and the leading cause of childhood morbidity from chronic disease as measured by school absences, emergency department visits, and hospitalions1. During the past two decades, many scientific advances have improved our understanding of asthma and our ability to manage and control it effectively. However, in children 5 years and younger, the clinical symptoms of asthma are variable and non‐specific. Furthermore, neither airflow limitation nor airway inflammation, the main pathologic hallmarks of the condition, can be assessed routinely in this age group. For this reason, to aid in the diagnosis of asthma in young children, a symptoms‐only descriptive approach that includes the definition of various wheezing phenotypes has been recommended2. In 1993, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was implemented to develop a network of individuals, organizations, and public health officials to disseminate information about the care of patients with asthma while at the same time assuring a mechanism to incorporate the results of scientific investigations into asthma care. Since then, GINA has developed and regularly revised a Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. Publications based on the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention have been translated into many different languages to promote international collaboration and dissemination of information.In this report, Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention in Children 5 Years and Younger, an effort has been made to present the special challenges that must be taken into account in managing asthma in children during the first 5 years of life, including difficulties with diagnosis, the efficacy and safety of drugs and drug delivery systems, and the lack of data on new therapies. Approaches to these issues will vary among populations in the world based on socioeconomic conditions, genetic diversity, cultural beliefs, and differences in healthcare access and delivery. Patients in this age group are often managed by pediatricians and general practitioners routinely faced with a wide variety of issues related to childhood diseases. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011; 46:1–17. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Section: Companion Animal Allergensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global strategy for the diagnosis and management of asthma in children 5 years and younger

Pedersen

Hurd

Lemanske

et al. 2010

Pediatric Pulmonology

267

207

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The close cohabitation of dogs and humans may facilitate the transfer of various infectious agents between these species. Lower prevalence of allergic diseases among those living on farms or with pets during childhood support this concept [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Indeed, this idea coined the 'hygiene hypothesis' theory is based on associations between the decrease in beneficial microbial burdens and the increase with allergies, autoimmune disease and generalized immune dysfunction in modernized societies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taken together, these studies in mice provide evidence that canine microbiota may contribute to lower body weights-and simultaneously serve to strengthen the human-animal bond -due to microbe-induced activities of the hormone oxytocin. It remains to be proven whether these effects exist in human subjects.Epidemiological data showing lower prevalence of allergic diseases among those living on farms or with pets during childhood support this beneficial microbe concept, thus sparking intense research interest in this topic [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The 'hygiene hypothesis' theory is based on associations between the modern living-associated decrease in infectious agent exposures and the commensurate increase in allergies and autoimmune diseases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Beneficial Dog Bacteria Up-Regulate Oxytocin and Lower Risk of Obesity

Varian¹,

Levkovich²,

Poutahidis³

et al. 2017

J Prob Health

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AnimalsC57BL/6 wild type (wt), oxytocin-wt (oxt-wt) and oxytocin- AbstractCohabitation with pet dogs imparts diverse health benefits to humans including a slim physique. It is known that neuropeptide hormone oxytocin fundamental in human-canine social bonds regulates appetite and body weight. It was recently shown in mice that consuming Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 6475 from human breast milk lowers body weight and up-regulates oxytocin levels in blood. Here we test the hypothesis that bacteria from dog saliva may similarly modulate recipient host body weight. We find that a Lactobacillus spp isolate from dog saliva led to lower body weight when fed to C57BL/6 wild type mice. Mice consuming the canineborne L. reuteri also had elevated oxytocin levels in blood plasma, and exhibited body weight in an oxytocin-dependent manner. Interestingly, killed (lysed) canine bacteria were sufficient to achieve the physiological effects. Taken together, these studies provide evidence that dog bacteria modulate oxytocin levels and body weight in recipient mice, and thus may help reduce risk of obesity in individuals cohabitating with pet dogs. knockout (oxt-ko) B6; 129S-Oxttm1Wsy/J mice (purchased initially from Jackson labs; Bar Harbor, ME) were used in three separate experiments (Figure 1). Mice were housed and handled in Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)-accredited facilities using techniques and diets including Lactobacillus reuteri as specifically approved by Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Committee on Animal Care (CAC). Mice were housed under standard 12:12 light cycle conditions with lights on at 7 AM. Mice were fed a standard control chow Purina RMH3000. Beneficial Dog Bacteria Up-Regulate Oxytocin and Lower Risk of ObesityMice were bred in-house to achieve experimental groups. Each experiment included 5-15 animals per group with one or two replications (total N=10-30 mice examined per group) unless otherwise specified. For the initial studies, C57BL/6 wt mice received Lactobacillus reuteri 2546 isolated from dog saliva. To test putative roles for microbeinduced oxytocin in obesity, oxt-ko mice and their oxt-wt littermates entered experiments at eight weeks of age. At the conclusion of the study mice were euthanized with CO 2 overdose, and were examined as described below. Eight pet dogs served as saliva microbe donors as approved by the MIT-CAC. Saliva was collected from these dogs in the morning before feeding using sterile swabs [Puritan Sterile Polyester Tipped applicators Guilford, Me Ref: 25-806 1PD] in 1.5 ml centrifuge tubes (Safeseal Microcentrifuge Tubes, Sorenson Bioscience Inc. Salt Lace City, UT Cat# 16070). Bacteria were purified from dog saliva as described in detail below. PCR of dog saliva for all Lactobacillus speciesSaliva was collected from eight pet dogs and prepared using High Pure PCR Template kit (Roche Diagnostics) was used without changes to the manufacturer's directions to isolate DNA from the canine saliva. DNA was measured using Nan...

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“…500,501 By contrast, other studies have demonstrated a decreased risk of developing allergy with exposure to pets. 502,503 A review of over 22,000 school-age children from 11 birth cohorts in Europe found no correlation between pets in the homes early in life and higher or lower prevalence of asthma in children. 504 For children at risk of asthma, dampness, visible mold and mold odor in the home environment are associated with increased risk of developing asthma.…”

Section: Inhalant Allergensmentioning

confidence: 99%