DETERMINATION OF ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC IGE OF DOGS WITH AN IN-VITRO ALLERGY TEST USING A MONOCULAR ANTIBODY - COMPARISON WITH THE INTRACUTANEOUS TEST AND FIRST RESULTS OF THE HYPOSENSITIZATION

The aim of the study was the development of an ELISA test using a mono clonal antibody to bind allergen specific IgE and subsequently to comp are the ELISA and the intracutaneous tests. Highly standardized mixtur es of major and minor allergens important for humans were used for int racutaneous tests, in the ELISA with the monoclonal detection antibody against canine IgE, and for hyposensitization, The summarized statist ical evaluation (only clinically relevant allergens: grass-mix, rye, p lantain, parietaria officinalis, dermatophagoides farinae, d. pteronys sinus, acarus sire, tyrophagus) showed the following results: sensitiv ity: 66%, specificity: 97%, efficiency: 87%, positive predicted value: 91%, negative predicted value: 85%. in these calculations the intracu taneous test was considered as standard. Preliminary results of the hy posensitization revealed a clinically relevant improvement in the cond ition of 80%. This study showed, that it is possible to develop an in- vitro allergy test that acceptably correlates with the intracutaneous test. Requirements are highly standardized allergen extracts for the t est as well as for the hyposensitization. One or more monoclonal antib odies against canine IgE are necessary to specifically bind the allerg en specific IgE's without cross reactions with other immunoglobulins. Experience has also shown, that both tests cannot fully replace one an other but are complementary and that neither can be taken as the stand ard.