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Preliminary investigations into the use of allergy skin testing solutions and desensitizing vaccines in dogs
Author(s) -
EDMONDS M. J.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1980.tb01227.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , etiology , allergy , desensitization (medicine) , mite , incidence (geometry) , house dust mite , clinical history , dust mites , immunology , diagnostic test , allergen , surgery , pathology , pediatrics , botany , receptor , physics , optics , biology
Dogs suffering from chronic pruritus of unknown aetiology are a persistent problem for small animal practitioners. Many cases are classified as ‘allergic’ or ‘atopic’ even though little work has been carried out on the incidence or diagnosis of these conditions in Britain. Skin testing has been attempted but few published reports are available. Practitioners were supplied with skin testing kits containing a range of allergens to which dogs may be exposed and were asked to test clinical cases of pruritus which they considered might be of allergic aetiology. Positive reactions were obtained most commonly to house dust and house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) antigens. In several cases the skin test results correlated with the symptoms and case history. Results suggest that in certain cases skin testing may be beneficial in diagnosis, although further immunological experimental work is necessary to evaluate more fully the technique. Desensitization therapy was attempted in several cases with fairly successful clinical results.