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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Allergic sensitization to common pets (cats/dogs) according to different possible modalities of exposure: an Italian Multicenter Study

Authors: G. Liccardi, L. Calzetta, G. Baldi, A. Berra, L. Billeri, M. Caminati, P. Capano, E. Carpentieri, A. Ciccarelli, M. A. Crivellaro, M. Cutajar, M. D’Amato, I. Folletti, F. Gani, D. Gargano, D. Giannattasio, M. Giovannini, C. Lombardi, M. Lo Schiavo, F. Madonna, M. Maniscalco, A. Meriggi, C. Micucci, M. Milanese, C. Montera, G. Paolocci, R. Parente, A. Pedicini, R. Pio, F. Puggioni, M. Russo, A. Salzillo, P. Scavalli, N. Scichilone, B. Sposato, A. Stanziola, G. Steinhilber, A. Vatrella, P. Rogliani, G. Passalacqua, On behalf of Italian Allergic Respiratory Diseases Task Force

Published in: Clinical and Molecular Allergy | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

The query “are there animals at home?” is usually administered for collecting information on anamnesis. This modality to consider exposure to pet allergens constitutes a potential bias in epidemiological studies and in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate/quantify different modalities of exposure to cat/dog in inducing allergic sensitization.

Methods

Thirty Italian Allergy units participated in this study. Each centre was required to collect the data of at least 20 consecutive outpatients sensitized to cat/dog allergens. A standardized form reported all demographic data and a particular attention was paid in relieving possible modalities of exposure to cat/dog.

Results

A total 723 patients sensitized to cat/dog were recorded, 359 (49.65%) reported direct pet contact, 213 patients (29.46%) were pet owners, and 146 subjects (20.19%) were exposed to pets in other settings. Other patients were sensitized by previous pet ownership (150–20.75%) or indirect contact (103–14.25%), in 111 subjects (15.35%) any contact was reported.

Conclusions

Only 213 patients (29.46%) would be classified as “exposed to animals” and 510 (70.54%) as “not exposed” according to usual query. Our classification has shown that many “not-exposed” subjects (399–55.19%) were “really exposed”. The magnitude of exposure to pet allergens at home is not related exclusively to pet ownership. These considerations should be taken into account during the planning of epidemiological studies and in clinical practice for the management of pet allergic individuals.

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Title: Allergic sensitization to common pets (cats/dogs) according to different possible modalities of exposure: an Italian Multicenter Study
Authors: G. Liccardi
L. Calzetta
G. Baldi
A. Berra
L. Billeri
M. Caminati
P. Capano
E. Carpentieri
A. Ciccarelli
M. A. Crivellaro
M. Cutajar
M. D’Amato
I. Folletti
F. Gani
D. Gargano
D. Giannattasio
M. Giovannini
C. Lombardi
M. Lo Schiavo
F. Madonna
M. Maniscalco
A. Meriggi
C. Micucci
M. Milanese
C. Montera
G. Paolocci
R. Parente
A. Pedicini
R. Pio
F. Puggioni
M. Russo
A. Salzillo
P. Scavalli
N. Scichilone
B. Sposato
A. Stanziola
G. Steinhilber
A. Vatrella
P. Rogliani
G. Passalacqua
On behalf of Italian Allergic Respiratory Diseases Task Force
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Clinical and Molecular Allergy / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1476-7961
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12948-018-0081-z

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Allergic sensitization to common pets (cats/dogs) according to different possible modalities of exposure: an Italian Multicenter Study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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