High allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E levels in nonatopic West Highland white terriers

• Published in: Veterinary dermatology 2011-06, Vol.22 (3), p.257-266
• Main Authors: Roque, Joana B., O'Leary, Caroline A., Kyaw-Tanner, Myat, Latter, Melanie, Mason, Kenneth, Shipstone, Michael, Vogelnest, Linda, Duffy, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Animals; Dermatitis, Atopic - blood; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - veterinary; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dogs - immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Female; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Intradermal Tests - veterinary; Male; Prospective Studies; Reference Values
• ISSN: 0959-4493; 1365-3164
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00939.x

Human and canine atopic dermatitis (AD) share an association with IgE specific to environmental allergens, but few studies have evaluated serum allergen‐specific IgE in nonatopic dogs. This study compared serum allergen‐specific IgE levels in 30 atopic and 18 nonatopic West Highland white terriers. Atopic dermatitis was confirmed using standard criteria. Nonatopic dogs were over 5 years of age and had no clinical signs or history of AD. Serum allergen‐specific IgE levels were measured with Allercept® IgE ELISAs using a 48‐allergen Australian panel. Positive reactions were defined as ≥150 ELISA absorbance units. Intradermal tests were performed in 16 atopic dogs, either at the time of or at various times prior to serum collection. In atopic dogs, the most common positive ELISA and intradermal test results were to Dermatophagoides farinae (11 of 30 dogs), but there were no statistically significant correlations between results from the two methods for any allergen. In nonatopic dogs, multiple high‐positive ELISA reactions were reported to 45 of 48 allergens, most commonly D. farinae and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (17 of 18 dogs each). Positive ELISA results in nonatopic dogs were statistically significantly higher than those in atopic dogs for 44 of 48 allergens, including two allergens (D. farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) commonly regarded as significant in canine AD. In conclusion, positive allergen‐specific IgE ELISAs were not specific for canine AD, and high allergen‐specific IgE levels were seen in nonatopic dogs. The clinical significance of this and whether it characterizes a protective phenotype is unclear. Résumé La dermatite atopique canine et humaine (AD) est associée avec des IgE spécifiques d’allergènes environnementaux mais peu d’études ont porté sur les IgE sériques spécifiques d’allergènes chez les chiens non‐atopiques. Cette étude compare les taux d’IgE sériques spécifiques d’allergènes chez 30 atopiques et 18 non‐atopiques West Highland white terriers (WHWTs). L’AD a été confirmée par des critères standard. Les chiens non‐atopiques avaient plus de cinq ans et ne présentaient aucun signe clinique ou anamnestique de AD. Les taux d’IgE sériques spécifiques d’allergènes ont été mesurés par une gamme australienne de 48 allergènes (Allercept® IgE ELISAs). Une réaction ELISA ≥150 unités d’absorbance (EA) était considérée comme positive. Des tests intradermiques ont été réalisés chez 16 chiens atopiques, antérieurement ou au moment du prél