A population‐based study of animal component sensitization, asthma, and rhinitis in schoolchildren

• Published in: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Main Authors: Bjerg, Anders, Winberg, Anna, Berthold, Malin, Mattsson, Lars, Borres, Magnus P., Rönmark, Eva
• Other Authors: The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, The Swedish Asthma-Allergy Foundation, Umeå University and Västerbotten County Council and Norrbotten County Councils (ALF), Visare Norr, Norrbotten County Council, Swedish Research Council, ALK, Denmark, ThermoFisher
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2015
• Subjects: Northern Sweden; Mite
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pai.12422; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fpai.12422; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pai.12422

Abstract Background Animal sensitization is a major determinant of asthma in children. Component‐resolved studies of unselected pediatric populations are lacking. The aim was to describe sensitization to animal components and the association with asthma and rhinitis in animal‐sensitized schoolchildren. Methods A random sample of 696 children (11–12 years) from a Swedish population‐based cohort was tested for sensitization to cat, dog, and horse dander using Immuno CAP . Sera from animal‐sensitized children were further analyzed by microarray including three allergen components from cat, four from dog, and two from horse. The parents completed an expanded ISAAC questionnaire. Results Of 259 animal‐sensitized children (≥0.1 kU A /l), 51% were sensitized to all three, 23% to two, and 25% to one species. Current asthma and asthma symptoms following contact with cats were associated with co‐sensitization to Fel d 1 and Fel d 4. This association was seen already at moderate‐level sensitization (1–15 ISU ) to Fel d 4, at which level most children were sensitized to Fel d 1, as well. In dog‐sensitized children, the majority was sensitized to more than one dog component, and co‐sensitization to Can f 5 and Can f 1/f 2 conferred the greatest risk for asthma. Sensitization to the highly cross‐reactive serum albumins was uncommon and not associated with asthma. Conclusions Among schoolchildren in northern Sweden, where mite allergy is uncommon, furry animals were the primary perennial sensitizers. Asthma was associated with higher levels of component sensitization, and sensitization to more than one component from the same animal conferred the greatest risk.