Pet allergy

In Germany about 49% of households own a pet. In families with children, the figure is around 60%, of which:

• one cat 60%
• one dog 15%
• one small mammal 6%

Average sensitization rates of about 10% are found in adults. These are found in the various These vary in the different age groups. In children and adolescents, the following sensitization rates were found in larger groups against dogs (see below dog allergy), cats (see below cat allergy) and horses (see below horse allergy):

• 6% (3-6 years)
• 12% (7-10 years)
• 15% (11-13 years)
• 17% (14-17 years)

Animal hair allergens are widespread in households with animals. The allergens enter the environment via hair and skin scales, saliva secretions and urine, bind to dust particles and clothes. This means that they are spread beyond the immediate vicinity of the animals (also aerogenic) and can trigger allergic symptoms in highly sensitised people (e.g. in schools).

Allergen identification and allergen characterisation of vertebrates according to IUIS

• Bos domesticus (domestic cattle)
  • Bos d 2 Lipocalin 20
  • Bos d 3 S100 calcium-binding protein A7 29
• Canis familiaris (dog/dog)
  • Can f 1 Lipocalin 23-25
  • Can f 2 Lipocalin 19 (27)
  • Can f 3 Serum albumin 69
  • Can f 4 Lipocalin 16 (non-red.), 18 (red.)
  • Can f 5 arginine esterase, prostatic kallikrein 28 kDa
  • Can f 6 Lipocalin 27 and 29 kDa
• Cavia porcellus (Guinea pig)
  • Cav p 1 Lipocalin 20
  • Cav p 2 Lipocalin 17 kDa
  • Cav p 3 Lipocalin 18
  • Cav p 4 Serum albumin 66 kDa
  • Cav p 6 Lipocalin 18 kDa
• Mesocricetus auratus (golden hamster)
  • Mes a 1 lipocalin (major allergen) Remark: not identical with the allergenic lipocalin of the two dwarf hamsters - Pho s 21 kDa)
• Equus caballus (Horse/Domestic horse)
  • Equ c 1 Lipocalin 25
  • Equ c 2 Lipocalin 17
  • Equ c 3 Serum albumin 67
  • Equ c 4 Latherine 17, 20.5
  • Equ c 5 deleted (identical to Equ c 4)
• Felis domesticus (cat/cat)
  • Fel d 1 Uteroglobin (chain 1) 14 and 4
  • Fel d 2 Serum albumin 69
  • Field d 3 Cystatin 11
  • Fel d 4 Lipocalin 22
  • Fel d 5w Immunoglobulin A 400
  • Fel d 6w Immunoglobulin M 800-1000
  • Field d 7 of Ebner gland protein 17.5 kDa
  • Fel d 8 Latherin-like protein 24 kDa
• Homo sapiens (human autoallergens)
  • Hom s 1 Squamous cell carcinoma antigen SART-1 55-60
  • Hom s 2 Nascent polypeptide-associated complex alpha subunit N.A. Hom s 3 BCL7B protein 22-23
  • Hom s 4 Atopy related autoantigen CALC N.A.
  • Hom s 5 Keratin, type II cytoskeletal 6A N.A.
• Mus musculus (mouse/mouse)
  • Mus m 1 Lipocalin/ urinary prealbumin 17
• Oryctolagus cuniculus (Rabbit/rabbit)
  • Ory c 1 Lipocalin 17-18
  • Ory c 3 secretion globulin 19-21 kDa
  • Ory c 4 Lipocalin 24 kDa
• Rattus norvegius (rat/council)
  • Council n 1 Alpha-2u-globulin/ lipocalin 17

Molecular allergen diagnostics with the characterization and identification of animal hair allergens allows an increasingly precise diagnosis with differentiation between primary and secondary allergies. Especially the combined use of marker allergens and cross-reactive allergens leads to a higher safety in the clinical statement with a therapeutic consequence.

1. Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee(http://www.allergen.org/search.php?)
2. Haftenberger M et al (2013) Prevalence of sensitisation to inhalation and food allergens (DEGS1). Bundegesundheitsblatt Health Research Health Protection 56: 687-697
3. Hilger C et al (2014) Allergies to cockroaches, ticks, storage mites and other arthropods: What is the status of molecular diagnostics. Allergo J Int 23: 18-24
4. Hilger C et al. (2015) Molecular diagnostics for mammalian allergy. In: Kleine-Tebbe J et al. Hrsg Molecular allergy diagnostics. Springer Publishing House Berlin-Heidelberg S 277-289

5. Ihuoma H et al (2018) Cat ownership, cat allergen exposure, and trajectories of sensitization and asthma throughout childhood. J Allergy Clin Immunol 141:820-822