Reactions to environmental allergens in cats with feline lower airway disease.

Aeroallergens have been discussed as potential triggers for feline asthma (FA), which can be induced experimentally by allergen sensitization. To date, only few studies have investigated reactions to environmental allergens in cats with naturally occurring feline lower airway disease (FLAD). The aim of the study was to compare results of intradermal testing (IDT) and serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E-(IgE) testing (SAT) in cats with FLAD, and to investigate possible associations with allergen exposure. Eight cats with eosinophilic airway inflammation (EI), ten cats with mixed inflammation (MI), six with neutrophilic inflammation (NI), and 24 healthy cats (HC) were included. Cats diagnosed with FLAD were assigned to the different inflammatory groups based on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF) cytology. SAT was performed in all cats; IDT was only carried out in cats with FLAD. Information about the cats' environment and potential allergen exposure was obtained using an owner questionnaire. In comparison to 83% of HC with positive reactions on SAT only 52% of cats with FLAD had positive responses ( Interpretation of allergy test results in cats with FLAD should be done in the context of clinical signs and individual factors.

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Copyright © 2023 Hartung, Mueller, Gauss, Weitzer, Boehm, Palić and Schulz.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

JP is employed by the Vet Med Labor GmbH Division of IDEXX Laboratories, Kornwestheim, Germany. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.