MONOCLONAL ANTI-IGE ANTIBODIES IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF DOG ALLERGY

The availability of anti-dog IgE monoclonal antibodies has enabled dev elopment of highly specific ELISA assays for measuring antigen-specifi c IgE in dog serum. In this article the authors propose criteria for e valuation of these monoclonals and demonstrate that some anti-human Ig E monoclonals recognize dog IgE. Combinations of two or more monoclona l antibodies can enhance assay sensitivity; for example, a mixture of DE38.HRPO and 4F4.HRPO conjugates detect total dog IgE in the range 10 -10000 ng/mL. Results are reported from nine clinical studies conducte d in Europe, Japan and Australia involving more than 400 dogs in which serologic IgE determinations performed using the CMG IMMUNODOT strip system for house dust mites, storage mites, flea, grass pollens and mo ulds were compared with immediate skin test findings. House dust mites were identified as the common major dog allergen throughout these are as although regional reactions to food allergens were observed. These results confirm that the CMG IMMUNODOT system is a valuable and reliab le diagnostic test for dog allergy.