COMPARISON BETWEEN IMMUNODOT TESTS AND THE INTRADERMAL SKIN-TEST IN ATOPIC DOGS

This study evaluated a new perspective in the diagnosis of dermatitis in dogs with signs suggestive of allergic skin disease. The results ob tained with CMG IMMUNODOT tests using the technique of allergen specif ic strip tests, as employed for human allergy diagnosis, were compared with those obtained by the intradermal skin test (IDST). Forty-eight cases completed the diagnostic evaluation, which included IDST, flea-c ontrol program, exclusion of sarcoptes and, for some cases, a 1- to 2- month stabilization period on a restricted protein source diet and tes ting the serum in the presence of allergen-specific IgE and total IgE. The most common disorders included house and storage dust mites, alle rgic dermatitis and flea-allergic dermatitis together with atopy. This was confirmed serologically. In the case of positive IDST to pollens, Aspergillus spp. and cat epithelium, CMG IMMUNODOT strip tests were n egative. A total of 25% of cases were considered to be primarily assoc iated with food hypersensitivity, but only 4% were confirmed serologic ally. This study emphasizes the value of CMG IMMUNODOT tests as a supp ort in the diagnosis of dog allergy.