Clinical relevance of intradermal test results in atopic dogs

Abstract

Topic and aims Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory and pruritic skin disease and in most cases associated with IgE antibodies against environmental allergens. To date, the only causative therapeutic option is allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Offending allergens for AIT can be identified by intradermal testing (IDT) or serum allergen-specific IgE testing. The aim of the study was to evaluate positive IDT results considering the atopic dogs’ clinical history.

Material and methods An IDT was performed on 48 atopic dogs and their owners completed a detailed questionnaire about the seasonal course of their pruritus. Results of IDT were correlated with the seasonal occurrence of pruritus.

Results The most common positive IDT reactions were observed to mite allergens (33.3–62.5 %). Prevalence of positive reactions to individual tree, grass and weed pollen ranged between 8.3 % and 25 %. Moulds and epithelial allergens produced positive reactions in only 0–6.3 %. A correlation between positive IDT reactions and course of pruritus could neither be found for perennial nor for seasonal allergens.

Conclusion The evaluation of IDT reactions may not be an optimal method for identification of clinically relevant allergens in canine AD.

Clinical relevance The results of this study emphasise the importance of considering clinical history in addition to allergy test results in the formulation of an allergen extract for desensitisation.

Zusammenfassung

Gegenstand und Ziel Die kanine atopische Dermatitis (AD) ist eine entzündliche und juckende Hautkrankheit, bei der in den meisten Fällen IgE-Antikörper gegen Umweltallergene auftreten. Bis heute stellt die Allergen-Immuntherapie (AIT) die einzige kausale Therapie dar. Am Krankheitsgeschehen beteiligte Allergene können durch Intrakutantests (IKT) oder Serumtests auf allergenspezifisches IgE identifiziert werden. Ziel dieser Studie war herauszufinden, ob positive IKT-Ergebnisse mit der Anamnese der atopischen Hunde korrelieren.

Material und Methoden Bei 48 atopischen Hunden, bei denen ein IKT durchgeführt wurde, füllten die Hundebesitzer einen detaillierten Fragebogen über den jahreszeitlichen Verlauf des Juckreizes ihrer Hunde aus. Die Antworten in den Fragebögen wurden in Beziehung zu den Resultaten des IKT gesetzt.

Ergebnisse Die häufigsten positiven Reaktionen wurden gegen Hausstaubmilben festgestellt (33,3–62,5 %). Die Prävalenz positiver Resultate gegen die getesteten Pollen von Bäumen, Gräsern und Kräutern lag zwischen 8,3 % und 25 %. Schimmelpilze und Epithelien führten bei 0–6,3 % zu positiven Reaktionen. Positive IKT-Ergebnisse gegen ganzjährige und saisonale Allergene korrelierten nicht mit dem Auftreten von Juckreiz.

Schlussfolgerung Die Bewertung von Reaktionen im IKT ist möglicherweise nicht die optimale Methode für die Bestimmung der klinisch relevanten Allergene bei kaniner AD.

Klinische Relevanz Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie bestätigen, dass bei der Auswahl von Allergenen für die AIT die klinische Anamnese zusätzlich zu den Ergebnissen des Allergietests berücksichtigt werden muss.

Key words

Allergy - atopy - canine - dermatitis - intradermal testing - pruritus

Schlüsselwörter

Allergie - Atopie - kanin - Dermatitis - Intrakutantest - Juckreiz

Publication History

Received: 06 December 2020

Accepted: 16 February 2021

Article published online:
20 October 2021

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