STUDY ON CANINE ATOPY .2. ALLERGENS

Atopy has been diagnosed in 31 dogs because of their history, clinical signs, exclusion of relevant differentials and positive intradermal s kin test. The results of allergy testing are described and compared wi th the literature. The most frequent allergens are epithelia, mites an d house dust. Moulds were of lower, textiles and environmental allerge ns of lowest importance. All dogs were allergic to indoor allergens, b ut only 6 dogs to outdoor allergens. Among mites, housedust and storag e mites are of nearly equal importance. Among epithelia, the most freq uent reactions occured against human dander and poultry feathers. Amon g 23 reactions allergen mixtures reacted false negative in 18 and fals e positive in 1 case. Among 35 positive reactions the skin test and a commercial IgE-ELISA corresponded in only 3 cases.