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Allergens causing atopic diseases in canine
Hwa-Young Youn1, Hyung-Seok Kang, Dong-Ha Bhang
1Department of Internal Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. doglover@chollian.net
Journal of Veterinary Science
|June 24, 2003
Summary
House dust mites are the most common cause of canine atopic dermatitis in Korea, followed by fleas. Diagnosis involves skin tests to identify specific allergens for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Immunology
- Allergology
Background:
- Canine atopic skin disease (CAD) is a prevalent immune-mediated skin condition in Korea, characterized by systemic pruritus.
- Key clinical signs include itching around the eyes, ears, between toes, and on the flanks.
- Accurate diagnosis requires thorough history, intradermal skin testing (IDST), and serum IgE testing, with allergen selection varying geographically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of canine atopic dermatitis in Korea.
- To identify the specific allergens triggering atopic disease in the canine population studied.
- To provide data for geographically appropriate allergen selection in diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized intradermal skin testing (IDST) to assess canine allergic responses.
- Employed 26 allergen extracts from six groups: grasses, trees, weeds, molds, epidermal, and environmental allergens.
- Included 42 allergens in total for IDST, with positive and negative controls.
Main Results:
- House dust mites were the most frequent positive allergen identified via IDST (63%).
- Flea allergy was the second most common positive reaction (9%).
- Other identified allergens included molds (3%), house dusts (6%), feathers (3%), cedar/juniper (3%), timothy grass (3%), and dandelion (3%).
Conclusions:
- House dust mites are the predominant allergen causing canine atopic dermatitis in Korea.
- Flea allergy is a significant, though less common, allergen in Korean dogs with atopic dermatitis.
- Findings emphasize the importance of regional allergen prevalence data for accurate diagnosis and effective management of canine atopic skin disease.