Prevalence of Allergen-Specific IgE Positivity and Serum Immunoglobulin E Concentrations of Allergens in Dogs with Suspected Allergic Dermatitis Using the Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test in South Korea

TL;DR

This study analyzed IgE levels in dogs with allergies in South Korea to identify common allergens and how they vary by age, sex, and breed.

Contribution

This is the first large-scale study using MAST assay to assess allergen-specific IgE prevalence and concentrations in dogs by demographic factors.

Findings

Alternaria spp. was the most prevalent environmental allergen in dogs.

Japanese cedar had the highest mean IgE concentration among environmental allergens.

Allergen-specific IgE levels varied significantly by age, sex, and breed.

Abstract

In dogs, specific substances, such as environmental factors, foods, and drugs, can trigger allergies, leading to excessive immune responses and antibody generation caused by exposure to allergens. This study investigated allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in the serum of dogs suspected of having allergic dermatitis in South Korea, aiming to explore regional, age, sex, and breed-related differences in sensitization to environmental and food allergens. Overall, Alternaria spp. was found to be the most prevalent environmental allergen, while lamb meat was the most prevalent food allergen. The highest IgE concentrations were observed in Japanese cedar for environmental allergens and flaxseed for food allergens. Additionally, this study analyzed the allergens predominantly found in South Korea and the IgE concentration of sensitization related to these allergens by age, sex, and breed. These findings provide valuable data for minimizing allergen exposure and customizing immunotherapy to improve the management of allergy symptoms in dogs.

Type I allergies are triggered by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity reactions upon allergen exposure. Dogs are diagnosed with allergic dermatitis based on history, clinical signs, and allergen-specific IgE detection. Using the multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)–immunoblot assay, this study measured IgE concentrations and analyzed the proportion of dogs showing allergen-specific IgE positivity, and IgE concentrations of environmental and food allergens in South Korea. We examined data from canine serum using the MAST assay in 2023; the allergen panel included 130 allergens. Data were analyzed, with results greater than zero regarded as positive for the prevalence measurements and concentrations compared among subgroups. Overall, 2663 samples were evaluated to assess the proportion of dogs showing allergen-specific IgE positivity and mean concentrations of environmental and food allergens. Among the environmental allergens, Alternaria spp. had the highest IgE prevalence, whereas Japanese cedar had the highest mean IgE concentration. Allergen-specific differences were observed among subgroups categorized by age, sex, and breed. To our knowledge, this research is the first large-scale study to analyze canine serum using a MAST assay to assess the IgE prevalence of allergen-specific IgE positivity and concentration and to examine data by age, sex, and breed. These findings provide information for diagnosis and management of canine allergies.

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