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Commercial dry dog food in the north central United States is not contaminated by Dermatophagoides house dust mites
Author(s) -
Deboer Douglas J.,
Schreiner Terri A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1046/j.0959-4493.2001.00248.x
Subject(s) - allergen , dust mites , contamination , house dust mite , mite , food science , food allergens , food allergy , biology , toxicology , allergy , veterinary medicine , medicine , ecology , immunology
Contamination of home‐stored cereal grain food products with Dermatophagoides spp. house dust mites (HDM) was reported recently, along with anaphylaxis after consumption of these foods by dust mite‐allergic people. We hypothesized that commercial dry dog food could become similarly contaminated, particularly if stored improperly, and could eventually contribute to allergic signs in dogs. Newly purchased bags of dry dog food ( n = 30), from a variety of sources and manufacturers, and client samples of dry dog food ( n = 50), stored under a variety of conditions, were obtained. Food samples were extracted in aqueous buffer, and extracts were assayed using ELISA for Dermatophagoides group II (Der II) allergen, as a marker for the presence of HDM. Der II allergen was not detected in any of the 30 newly purchased or 50 stored samples tested. Positive control samples consisting of house dust or dog food mixed with house dust, similarly extracted, and Dermatophagoides commercial allergen extract were positive for Der II in the same assay. We could find no evidence of HDM contamination in newly purchased or stored commercial dry dog food in the north central United States.