Pet Allergy - A Major Cause of Allergy Attack
Prevalence of Animal Allergies
Do you have pets like a cat, a dog, or a rabbit at your house? What about a hamster or Guinea pig? Do you love rearing horses?
Almost 57% of the people have domestic animals and pets in their houses. Out of the total pet keepers around the world, 33% of them have dogs as their pets. Allergies to dogs and cats have risen 10% to 20% worldwide. Although an increase in fur allergy has been observed in recent years, the growing love for pets has not decreased or even leveled out. Pet animals present with many body components that can be a reason for allergy. This includes dander or fur, saliva, urine, and feces. Quite naturally, since people are fond of keeping pets, the only way out remains to detect the allergy cause and then follow effective health management strategies.
How is the Immune Response Elicited?
People who already have other types of allergies are more prone to getting allergies from fur. Interestingly the type of antigen that causes allergy from furry animals like cats, dogs, horses, and rabbits elicits a similar type of immune response. The mammalian allergens have a specific characterization and have a unique mechanism for the sensitization of the immune response.
Fur is a ubiquitous component of the environment and any sensitivity to this environmental component cannot be reversed. The concentrations of fur released in the air vary from location to location. It may surprise people, but you do not have to be in direct contact with an animal to be exposed to animal allergens. Because of their aerodynamic properties, mammalian allergens like fur easily become airborne, attach to clothes and hair, and can spread between environments. Studies have shown the major cat allergen Fel d 1 can be frequently found in homes without pets and in public buildings, including schools, day-care centers, and hospitals. Workplaces, cattle farms for horses, and laboratory animal facilities are one of the few exposure places for fur allergies. If you have already been exposed to the fur allergen, then there are high chances that you are already sensitized and would suffer from an allergy attack on the second exposure.
The protein antigen that is common in all the mammalian fur is called lipocalin - a protein constituted by almost all the mammalian allergens. This protein family consists of small extracellular entities with almost 15- to 17 amino acids and a molecular weight of 120kDa. When this allergen enters the respiratory tract, the IgE antibodies are triggered in response eliciting an immune response. However, studies have shown an alternating result. Sometimes, an increase in allergen exposure is associated with an increase in allergic symptoms. Other times, the increased exposure actually decreases the sensitivity and decreases the overall symptoms of allergy, so the results are inconsistent so far.
Detection and Prognosis of Allergy from Furry Animals
The diagnosis of allergy and the detection of the causative allergen has always been the main concern of immunologists. In emergency cases of hypersensitivity, there is no time to figure out the causative agent and the focus remains on saving the patient. During routine patient checkups, physicians usually prescribe medications to manage the symptoms while the real cause remains unknown.
It is important to realize that allergies can never be properly treated or prevented until the allergen is detected. This is why accurately identifying an allergen is critical to effectively treating allergies.
Today, there are many allergy detection methods like identifying the protein family in the body which can confirm the sources of allergens. As mentioned above, lipocalin is the main protein family found when the source is animal fur. Other protein families that can be detected are secretoglobin and kallikrein. This will not only improve the diagnosis of the disease but increase the success of the therapy using techniques like component-resolved diagnostics and Allergen-specific Immunotherapy (ASIT).
If you have pets in your house and you have the following symptoms, chances are that you have a fur allergy:
Runny and itchy nose
Red, itchy and watery eyes
Skin rashes and hives
Sinus pain and pressure
In more severe sensitivity the symptoms can present signs of asthma and the patient may suffer from non-stop cough, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath.
What Preventive Measures Should be Taken?
If you love your pet, you cannot simply get rid of it because of a few sneezy episodes, can you? People will put up with minor suffering for someone you love, and pets are definitely worth the love. So yes, you can follow a few tips and tricks to manage your fur allergy without having to kick out your pets!
The doctor might give you anti-allergies anti-histamines) and corticosteroids to manage inflammation.
Sometimes, leukotriene modifiers and decongestants are also prescribed to smoothen and relax the air passageway.
If you can identify the particular pet causing the allergy, try to keep it away from the room you sleep in.
Avoid hugging or kissing your pet animal.
Use HEPA filters in your house so that the air can be constantly cleansed.
Make sure your pets do not use your furniture and bed.
Remove any carpets and rugs to prevent the entrapment of fur.
Consult with your local allergist to discuss if testing may be appropriate. An allergist can offer you the best care suited for your case and will identify the real triggers of your allergies.
Pinpoint your TRUE allergies with NOVOES! The NOVEOS system was developed by HYCOR to overcome the challenges laboratories are confronted with, when routinely testing for specific IgE. »NOVEOS
List from NOVEOS product catalog:
Epidermal & Animal Proteins Last updated June 2022 | Allergen Components: Last updated June 2022 | Mixes: Last updated June 2022 |
|---|---|---|
E001 Cat Dander | E094 rFel d 1, Cat | EX01 Domestic Animal Mix E001, E003, E004, E005 |
E003 Horse Dander | E101 rCan f 1, Dog | |
E004 Cow Dander | E102 rCan f 2, Dog | |
E005 Dog Dander | E220 nFel d 2 Cat Serum Albumin, Cat | |
E006 Guinea Pig Epithelium | E221 nCan f 3 Dog Serum Albumin, Dog | |
E070 Goose Feathers | E226 rCan f 5, Dog | |
E071 Mouse Epithelium | E227 rEqu c 1, Horse | |
E072 Mouse Urine Proteins | E228 rFel d 4, Cat | |
E073 Rat Epithelium | E232 rCan f 1, nCan f 3, rCan f 5, Dog | |
E074 Rat Urine Proteins | | |
E075 Rat Serum Proteins | | |
E076 Mouse Serum Proteins | | |
E082 Rabbit Epithelium | | |
E085 Chicken Feathers | | |
E086 Duck Feathers | | |
E087 Rat Epithelium, Serum and Urine Proteins | | |
E088 Mouse Epithelium, Serum and Urine Proteins | | |
E206 Rabbit Serum Proteins | | |
E211 Rabbit Urine Proteins | | |
E215 Pigeon Feathers | | |
E219 Chicken Serum Proteins | | |
NOVEOS Allergen Menu List, Specific IgE and Total IgE:
Download the latest product list of NOVEOS® Specific IgE Allergens, NOVEOS Assay Reagents, Consumables, and Supplies in the following languages:
References:
Patrick David, C. (2016, September 10). INFOGRAPHIC: Most of world owns pets; Dogs are tops. PetfoodIndustry.Com. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/5845-infographic-most-of-world-owns-pets-dogs-are-tops
Zahradnik, E. (2017, August 4). Respiratory Allergens from Furred Mammals: Environmental and Occupational Exposure. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/4/3/38/htm
Zahradnik, E. (2014). Animal Allergens and Their Presence in the Environment. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2014.00076/full
Mammalian-derived respiratory allergens â Implications for diagnosis and therapy of individuals allergic to furry animals. (2014, March 1). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1046202313003629
When Animal (Allergies) Attack: Pet Allergy Symptoms, Treatment. (2017, May 25). OnHealth. https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/pets_allergies_dogs_cats
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