Evaluation of different techniques for washing cats: Quantitation of allergen removed from the cat and the effect on airborne Fel d 1☆,☆☆,★,★★
Section snippets
Extraction of Fel d 1 from cat hair
Cats were volunteered by their owners for this study. All cats were healthy, neutered males. Between samplings the cats were returned home. Cat hair was obtained from a local pet groomer to determine the solutions that were most efficient at removing Fel d 1. Samples of 0.05 gm were extracted overnight at 4° C in 3 ml of tap water; 1 mmol/L HCl, pH 3; borate-buffered saline, pH 8; or a commercially marketed pet shampoo diluted 1:16 in water, pH 7 (HyLyt; DVM Pharmaceuticals Inc., Miami, Fla.).
Estimation of total Fel d 1 on cats and variation with anatomic site
Preliminary experiments established that elution of Fel d 1 from cat hair can be achieved with water, pet shampoo, or buffered saline solution. The quantity of Fel d 1 eluted with 1 mmol/L HCl was lower, but this may reflect denaturation during elution. None of the eluants interfered with the ELISA. Hair was extracted for 6 minutes; aliquots removed at 1-minute intervals were assayed for Fel d 1 content. Greater than 95% of the elutable Fel d 1 was removed within 3 minutes (Fig. 1).
Discussion
Previous studies have shown that Fel d 1 is the major cat allergen responsible for causing symptoms in patients allergic to cats.14, 15, 16 Fel d 1 is a 36 kd acidic protein dimer secreted primarily by the sebaceous glands. 16, 17, 18, 19 The antigen can accumulate on cats' hair, and when airborne, is associated with small particles ranging in size from 1 to 10 μm in diameter. 3, 20, 21 Cat allergen can remain airborne for prolonged periods, even in undisturbed conditions.3, 7, 8, 22, 23, 24
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Update on indoor allergens and their impact on pediatric asthma
2022, Annals of Allergy, Asthma and ImmunologyCitation Excerpt :Strategies to limit cat allergen exposure when the animal cannot be rehomed include keeping the animal out of the bedroom and washing the animal at least twice weekly; however, effects are short-lived. Immersing the cat for 3 minutes removed Fel d 1 and reduced airborne Fel d 1 temporarily, but the benefits persisted for less than 1 week.19 Consistent vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum and using HEPA air filters have been studied as interventions in reducing detectable cat allergen in living room and bedroom samples.
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2015, Allergy, Immunity and Tolerance in Early Childhood: The First Steps of the Atopic MarchSevere pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis caused by cat allergy
2014, Paediatric Respiratory ReviewsCitation Excerpt :Counter to this theory is the finding that sensitisation to cat dander on skin prick testing is only 16% in allergic children with CF, compared to 58% in those without CF [10], suggesting that the presence of LPS in the airway does not itself increase the risk of allergy. Although the precise allergic mechanism of Fel d 1 is becoming clearer, the only current treatments for cat allergy are antihistamines, which vary in effectiveness between individuals, cat washing (only transiently beneficial [24]) or animal avoidance. Whilst avoidance was successful in this case, it is not always the case due to passive transfer of allergens between environments [25], the ability of cat allergens to stay airborne for long periods of time [20] and the fact that even tiny amounts can elicit a chronic airway inflammatory response in sensitised individuals [26].
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From the University of Virginia Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, Charlottesville.
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Supported by grants AI-20565 and 1U01-AI-34607 from the National Institutes of Health.
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Reprint requests: Judith A. Woodfolk, MB, ChB, UVA Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, Box 225, Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908.
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