BACKGROUND: Cat allergens are ubiquitous because the clothing of cat owners constitutes an important source of distribution of Fel d 1 in cat-free environments. Since Fel d 1 can adhere to a variety of surfaces, we sought to verify if human hair belonging to individuals with or without a cat at home might represent a reservoir and be a possible carrier of cat allergens. METHODS: Seventy-three women (25 with a non-neutered male cat and 25 with a dog at home, and 23 controls without any direct contact with these animals) were recruited. The collection of material from hair was carried out using a modified version of a battery-powdered portable sampler. Particulate material was harvested onto glass fiber filters (25 mm in diameter, with a pore size of 2 microm; AP 20 Millipore, Milan Italy), extracted in phosphate buffer with BSA and then assayed for the evaluation of cat allergen using an ELISA based on anti-Fel d 1 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Detectable levels of cat allergen were found in 2 controls, in 2 women with a dog at home and in 13 women with a cat at home, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In some women with a cat at home, hair constitutes a significant reservoir of Fel d 1. It is likely that these amounts of cat allergen might contribute to allergic sensitization when released in cat-free environments.
BACKGROUND: Cat allergens are ubiquitous because the clothing of cat owners constitutes an important source of distribution of Fel d 1 in cat-free environments. Since Fel d 1 can adhere to a variety of surfaces, we sought to verify if humanhair belonging to individuals with or without a cat at home might represent a reservoir and be a possible carrier of cat allergens. METHODS: Seventy-three women (25 with a non-neutered male cat and 25 with a dog at home, and 23 controls without any direct contact with these animals) were recruited. The collection of material from hair was carried out using a modified version of a battery-powdered portable sampler. Particulate material was harvested onto glass fiber filters (25 mm in diameter, with a pore size of 2 microm; AP 20 Millipore, Milan Italy), extracted in phosphate buffer with BSA and then assayed for the evaluation of cat allergen using an ELISA based on anti-Fel d 1 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Detectable levels of cat allergen were found in 2 controls, in 2 women with a dog at home and in 13 women with a cat at home, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In some women with a cat at home, hair constitutes a significant reservoir of Fel d 1. It is likely that these amounts of cat allergen might contribute to allergic sensitization when released in cat-free environments.
Authors: Esmeralda J M Krop; Gert Doekes; Martin J Stone; Rob C Aalberse; Jaring S van der Zee Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2006-10-19 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: G Liccardi; L Calzetta; G Baldi; A Berra; L Billeri; M Caminati; P Capano; E Carpentieri; A Ciccarelli; M A Crivellaro; M Cutajar; M D'Amato; I Folletti; F Gani; D Gargano; D Giannattasio; M Giovannini; C Lombardi; M Lo Schiavo; F Madonna; M Maniscalco; A Meriggi; C Micucci; M Milanese; C Montera; G Paolocci; R Parente; A Pedicini; R Pio; F Puggioni; M Russo; A Salzillo; P Scavalli; N Scichilone; B Sposato; A Stanziola; G Steinhilber; A Vatrella; P Rogliani; G Passalacqua Journal: Clin Mol Allergy Date: 2018-02-02