Pet Allergy

Pet Allergy

Pet allergy is one of the most common allergic conditions, affecting up to 15% of the population worldwide. It is widely believed that allergy is caused by pet hair. In fact, the cause is proteins found in saliva, dander, urine and sebaceous gland secretions.

Main Allergens

The main cat allergen is the protein Fel d 1, which is produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. This protein is extremely light and airborne, travels easily through the air and settles on furniture, clothing and walls. Even after the animal has been removed, the allergen persists indoors for up to 6 months.

Several clinically relevant allergen components have been identified in dogs, the best known being Can f 1, Can f 2, Can f 3 and Can f 5.

It is important to remember that there are no hypoallergenic breeds of cats or dogs. All animals produce allergenic proteins, although the amounts may vary.

Symptoms

Manifestations of pet allergy include:

• allergic rhinitis: sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea;
• allergic conjunctivitis: itching, redness, watery eyes, swelling;
• bronchial asthma: cough, wheezing, shortness of breath;
• skin manifestations: urticaria, atopic dermatitis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis includes skin prick tests with animal allergens and measurement of specific IgE to allergen extracts and molecules. Molecular diagnostics identifies exactly which allergen components the patient is sensitized to (for example, Fel d 1, Can f 1, Can f 2 and others) and helps assess whether allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is appropriate.

KombiMED offers comprehensive solutions for allergy laboratories, including test systems for detecting animal allergens.