The incidence of Japanese cedar pollinosis and sensitization to the pollen allergens among Japanese monkeys in a troop

Abstract

The natural occurrence of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica; CJ) pollinosis has been reported in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata), an appropriate animal model for developing antipollinosis therapies. However, there has been no study on the incidence of Japanese cedar pollinosis in monkeys. To evaluate the incidence of CJ pollinosis in Japanese monkeys, we investigated the presence of pollinosis symptoms among monkeys in a troop, and the response to CJ allergens in pollinosis monkeys. We examined the presence of pollinosis symptoms in 272 monkeys in a troop throughout the CJ pollination season (February to April). Of the 272 monkeys, 21 (7.7%) showed pollinosis symptoms during the CJ pollen season. Blood samples were taken from the 21 monkeys that showed pollinosis symptoms and were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody for CJ allergens. All 21 monkeys with CJ pollinosis had anti-CJ IgE. Of the 21 monkeys, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) could be taken from 12, all of which showed CJ allergen-specific PBMC proliferation. The incidence of CJ pollinosis in a troop was 7.7%. The monkeys with CJ pollinosis demonstrated specific IgE and PBMC proliferation for CJ allergens.

Seasonal changes of humoral and cellular immune responses to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergens in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) with pollinosis

“…We found seasonal changes in the PBMC proliferative response to Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 in these monkeys. In previous studies, we reported that PBMCs from monkeys during the pollen season showed proliferation responses to Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 [8,23]. In the present study, all monkeys showed a specific PBMC proliferative response to CJ allergens after the pollen season.…”

“…7 and 8) in this troop that had no CJ pollinosis and no anti-CJ IgE were prepared. We came daily to the feeding place and examined the presence of pollinosis symptoms such as tear production, eye redness, sneezing, and rhinorrhea in the monkeys [22,23]. All the monkeys were named and identified.…”

“…All the monkeys were named and identified. This monkey troop is the only one on this island [6,22,23]. CJ pollen season in this area is from February to April.…”

Respiratory System Diseases of Nonhuman Primates

“…Allergic rhinitis has been reported in an adult female chimpanzee (Halpern et al, 1989;Dumonceaux et al, 1997) and Japanese macaques (M. fuscata) (Sakaguchi et al, 1992(Sakaguchi et al, , 1999. The report of pollinosis in Japanese macaques (Sakaguchi et al, 1992) describes specific serum IgE to allergens from Japanese cedar trees and refers to reports indicating pollinosis in both wild and captive Japanese macaques throughout Japan.…”