Serum immunoglobulin E against storage mite allergens in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of serum IgE against the storage mites Acarus siro, Blomia tropicalis, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae in a population of dogs with atopic dermatitis. Sera from 84 dogs with atopic dermatitis residing in various regions of the United States and Europe. Immunoblotting of sera from atopic dogs was used to identify proteins in mite extracts that bound IgE. 94% of the dogs had serum IgE against proteins in extracts of 1 or more of the storage mite species. Ninety-five, 92, and 89% of the storage mite-sensitive dogs had serum IgE against proteins in extracts of A siro, B tropicalis, and T putrescentiae, respectively. Eighty-two percent had serum IgE against at least 1 protein in all 3 species. Most of the major allergens had molecular weights > 80 kd. A greater percentage of the dog sera had IgE against storage mite proteins, compared with proteins of the house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae and D pteronyssinus. Many dogs with atopic dermatitis have serum IgE against many allergens of storage mites. Most of these allergens, like allergens of dust mites, had molecular weights > 80 kd. Storage mite sensitivity in dogs may be as important, if not more important, than dust mite sensitivity.