Intradermal testing and serum allergen-specific IgE-testing in cats with naturally occurring feline bronchial disease

 

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Abstract

Objectives While feline asthma (FA) is considered to be of allergic origin, the etiology of feline chronic bronchitis (CB) to date is unknown. Aim of the study was to compare the results of intradermal testing (IDT) and serum testing for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (SAT) in cats diagnosed with FA and CB.

Material and methods Twenty-seven client-owned cats with clinical signs, suggestive of feline inflammatory bronchial disease (FBD) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Patients were assigned to 3 groups based on results of bronchoalveolar-lavage-fluid (BALF)-cytology: FA (n=8), CB (n=10), or cats with a physiological BALF cytology (PB; n=9). A standardized IDT for 27 allergens was performed in all cats. In addition, allergen-specific IgE was measured in serum samples using an FcεRIα-ELISA. The number of positive reactions in both tests was compared between groups, and agreement between test results of both tests was evaluated.

Results Regarding the number of positive reactions, no statistically significant difference was detected between groups in IDT (p=0.65) and SAT (p=0.51). When comparing the 2 test systems, a weak correlation was found for the allergens Tyrophagus putrescentiae (k=0.256), Dermatophagoides farinae (k=0.276), and rye (k=0.273). The most commonly observed reactions were to house dust mites, storage mites, rye and nettle in IDT and to sheep sorrel, storage mites, and house dust mites in SAT.

Conclusion and relevance IDT and SAT in cats with feline inflammatory bronchial disease (FBD) cannot be used interchangeably for allergen detection. Sensitization to environmental allergens can occur in cats with and without airway inflammation. Therefore, a positive test result should always be assessed in context with clinical signs and allergen exposure.

Zusammenfassung

Gegenstand und Ziel Während beim felinen Asthma (FA) eine allergische Ursache vermutet wird, ist die Ätiologie der chronischen Bronchitis (CB) bei Katzen bisher unbekannt. Ziel der Studie war es, die Ergebnisse von Intrakutantests (IDT) und Serumtests auf allergenspezifisches Immunglobulin E (SAT) bei Katzen mit FA und CB zu vergleichen.

Material und Methoden 27 Katzen aus Privatbesitz mit klinischen Anzeichen einer entzündlichen Bronchialerkrankung wurden prospektiv in die Studie aufgenommen. Die Patienten wurden anhand der Ergebnisse der Zytologie der Bronchoalveolarlavageflüssigkeit (BALF) in 3 Gruppen eingeteilt: FA (n=8), CB (n=10) und Katzen mit einer physiologischen BALF-Zytologie (PB; n=9). Bei allen Katzen wurde ein standardisierter IDT für 27 Allergene durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus wurde allergenspezifisches IgE in Serumproben mit einem FcεRIα-ELISA gemessen. Die Anzahl der positiven Reaktionen in beiden Tests wurde zwischen den Gruppen verglichen, und die Übereinstimmung der Testergebnisse in beiden Tests untersucht.

Ergebnisse Hinsichtlich der Anzahl der positiven Reaktionen wurde kein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Gruppen im IDT (p=0,65) und SAT (p=0,51) festgestellt. Beim Vergleich der beiden Testsysteme konnte eine schwache Korrelation für die Allergene Tyrophagus putrescentiae (k=0,256), Dermatophagoides farinae (k=0,276) und Roggen (k=0,273) festgestellt werden. Die am häufigsten beobachteten Reaktionen betrafen Hausstaubmilben, Vorratsmilben, Roggen und Brennnessel im IDT und Sauerampfer, Vorratsmilben und Hausstaubmilben im SAT.

Schlussfolgerung und klinische Signifikanz IDT und SAT können bei Katzen mit feliner entzündlicher Bronchialerkrankung (feline inflammatory bronchial disease; FBD) nicht austauschbar zur Identifizierung von Allergenen verwendet werden. Eine Sensibilisierung auf Umweltallergene kann bei Katzen mit und ohne Atemwegsentzündung auftreten. Daher sollte ein positives Testergebnis immer im Zusammenhang mit der klinischen Symptomatik und der Allergenexposition bewertet werden.

Publication History

Received: 21 July 2022

Article published online:
06 December 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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