Pets & human asthma,allergy & immune system

Do allergic families avoid keeping furry pets?

anthrozoology — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:38:31 +1000

Bertelsen RJ. Carlsen KC. Granum B. Carlsen KH. Haland G. Devulapalli CS. Munthe-Kaas MC. Mowinckel P. Lovik M.

Department of Environmental Immunology, Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway. randi.jacobsen.bertelsen@fhi.no

Indoor Air. 20(3):187-95, 2010 Jun.

Studies addressing the relationship between pet keeping and development of asthma and allergies may be influenced by pet avoidance in families with a history of allergic disease. Following a cohort of 1019 children in Oslo till 10 years of age, we studied the association of pet keeping with socio-economic factors and allergic disease in the family. A family history of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis was not significantly associated with pet ownership at birth or with pet removal by 10 years. Acquiring cats and dogs was less likely if the child had allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, whereas no association was seen with asthma (in any family member). Single parenthood increased the likelihood of acquiring a cat, smoking parents more often had cats or dogs, and having older siblings was associated with keeping dogs and other furry pets. Among 319 families reporting pet avoidance, 70% never had pets, 8% had given up pets, and 22% avoided a particular type of pet only. Twenty-four per cent of the parents failed to retrospectively report pet keeping during the child's first year of life. Overall, allergic rhinitis, but not asthma was associated with actual pet avoidance, whereas the strongest predictors for keeping pets were found to be socio-economic factors. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Allergic disease in a child most often does not lead to the removal of the family's furry pet. Pet avoidance is associated with allergic symptoms, but not asthma. Socio-economic factors like parental education, single parenthood and smoking affects the families' decisions on pet keeping, including the type of pets the families will avoid or acquire. The large recall error demonstrated points to the need for prospective data regarding pet keeping.

The role of cats and dogs in asthma and allergy - a systematic review

anthrozoology — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:45:10 +1000

The role of cats and dogs in asthma and allergy - a systematic review.

Chen ChihMei; Tischer, C.; Schnappinger, M.; Heinrich, J.;

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2010. 213: 1, 1-31.

Studies have reported contradictory effects of cat and dog exposure on allergy, resulting in inconsistent recommendations on animal avoidance.

We conducted a systematic review of observational studies published in English from 2000 to January 2009. It shows in this review that the reported exposure-response relationships are contradictory. A total of 17 and 13 birth cohort studies on cat and dog exposure, respectively, are included in the review. Most of the birth cohort studies found that cat or dog exposure in early life had no effect on the development of asthma or wheezing symptoms and dog exposure during infancy was found to protect children from developing sensitization against aeroallergens. A total of 7 and 6 prospective studies in school-age children or adults on cat and dog exposure, respectively, are included in this review and most of these studies suggested an inverse association between cat exposure and asthma and wheezing symptoms. As for cross-sectional studies, 26 and 21 studies on cat and dog exposure, respectively, are included in this review, which cover a broad range of age groups and geographical areas, and reported inconsistent results.

Effects of early pet ownership on sensitisation / asthma in a high-risk cohort without disease-related modification of exposure

anthrozoology — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:20:57 +1000

Effects of early cat or dog ownership on sensitisation and asthma in a high-risk cohort without disease-related modification of exposure.

Almqvist, Catarina. Garden, Frances. Kemp, Andrew S. Li, Qiang. Crisafulli, Daniel. Tovey, Euan R. Xuan, Wei. Marks, Guy B.
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 24(2):171-8, 2010 Mar.

Variation in the observed association between pet ownership and allergic disease may be attributable to selection bias and confounding. The aim of this study was to suggest a method to assess disease-related modification of exposure and second to examine how cat acquisition or dog ownership in early life affects atopy and asthma at 5 years. Information on sociodemographic factors and cat and dog ownership was collected longitudinally in an initially cat-free Australian birth cohort based on children with a family history of asthma. At age 5 years, 516 children were assessed for wheezing, and 488 for sensitisation. Data showed that by age 5 years, 82 children had acquired a cat. Early manifestations of allergic disease did not foreshadow a reduced rate of subsequent acquisition of a cat. Independent risk factors for acquiring a cat were exposure to tobacco smoke at home odds ratio (OR) 1.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13, 3.26], maternal education </=12 years OR 1.95 [1.08, 3.51] and dog ownership OR 2.23 [1.23, 4.05]. Cat or dog exposure in the first 5 years was associated with a decreased risk of any allergen sensitisation, OR 0.50 [0.28, 0.88] but no association with wheeze OR 0.96 [0.57, 1.61]. This risk was not affected by age at which the cat was acquired or whether the pet was kept in- or outdoors. In conclusion, cat or dog ownership reduced the risk of subsequent atopy in this high-risk birth cohort. This cannot be explained by disease-related modification of exposure. Public health recommendations on the effect of cat and dog ownership should be based on birth cohort studies where possible selection bias has been taken into account.

Childhood asthma and early life exposure to indoor allergens, endotoxin and beta (1,3)-glucans.

anthrozoology — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:04:25 +1100

Bertelsen, R. J.; Carlsen, K. C. L.; Carlsen, K. H.; Granum, B.; Doekes, G.; Haland, G.; Mowinckel, P.; Lovik, M.;

Dog ownership and contact during childhood and later allergy development

anthrozoology — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:17:22 +1000

European Respiratory Journal 2008; 31:963-973

C-M. Chen, V. Morgenstern, W. Bischof, O. Herbarth, M. Borte, H. Behrendt, U. Krämer, A. von Berg, D. Berdel, C. P. Bauer, S. Koletzko, H-E. Wichmann, J. Heinrich and the Influences of Lifestyle Related Factors on the Human Immune System and Development of Allergies in Children (LISA) Study Group and the German Infant Nutrition Intervention Programme (GINI) Study Group

CORRESPONDENCE: J. Heinrich, E-mail: joachim.heinrich@helmholtz-muenchen.de

The effect of dog ownership during childhood on the development of allergy has been investigated in few studies with conflicting results. The association between dog contact and indoor endotoxin exposure during infancy and the development of allergic sensitisation and atopic disease up to age 6 yrs was investigated.

Pet ownership among persons with AIDS in three Florida counties.

anthrozoology — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:47:23 +1100

Conti, L., S. Lieb, et al. (1995).

American Journal of Public Health 85(11): 1559-61.

Interviews were conducted among 408 adults with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome at three local health departments to determine the proportion who owned pets, their perceived attachment to their pets, and the proportion who were informed about zoonoses. Nearly half (187, or 46%) were living with pets, most commonly dogs (64%), followed by cats (38%), fish (15%), birds (8%), reptiles (3%), and rodents (2%). Most pet owners (81%) reported an attachment to their pet. Only 10% were informed of zoonoses, albeit some incorrectly. Health care providers should recognize the high pet ownership rate among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus and correctly inform their patients of strategies to sustain a low zoonotic disease incidence.

The effect of pet ownership on the risk of allergic sensitisation and bronchial asthma

anthrozoology — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:38:31 +1100

G. Liccardi, G., D'Amato et al.

Journal/Respiratory Medicine, 99, 2005.

An increasing volume of evidence suggests that early contact of children with the allergens of furred pets (especially those produced by cats) may determine a lower risk of developing allergic sensitisation to these materials. A possible explanation of this data is that an early inhalation of high levels of the major cat allergen Fel d 1 includes the production of IgG and IgG4 antibodies with a "protective" effect. Other authors have shown that the prevalence of allergic sensitisation to cats, in adults, is reduced in those patients exposed to the lowest and highest levels of the allergens. On the contrary, the risk of developing sensitisation to cats is significantly higher when patients were exposed to intermediate levels of Fel d 1. Moreover, epidemiological studies have demonstrated a relatively low prevalence of cat allergy (about 10%) in some countries where rates of cat ownership are high. This data confirm the role of indirect exposure to pet allergens in inducing allergic sensitisation. Clothes of pet owners have been indicated as the carriers for the dispersal of these allergens in pet-free environments. However, it is important to point out that exposure of highly sensitized patients to relevant amounts of pet allergens (such as in a pet show/shops) may determine a dramatic exacerbation of nasal and/or bronchial symptoms.

AIDS diagnosis and depression in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study: the ameliorating impact of pet ownership

anthrozoology — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:35:11 +1100

Siegel, J. M., F. J. Angulo, R. Detels, J. Wesch, and A. Mullen.

AIDS Care, v. 11, p. 157-70, 1999.

The impact of pet ownership on depression was tested among a sample of gay and bisexual men (n = 1,872). Multivariate analyses, controlling for demographics and baseline depressive symptomatology, showed that neither pet ownership nor the presence of HIV infection was associated with depression. Depression was influenced by the presence of AIDS and by having relatively few confidants. Analyses among HIV-infected men only showed that persons with AIDS who owned pets reported less depression than persons with AIDS who did not own pets. This beneficial effect of pet ownership occurred principally among persons who reported fewer confidants. These results suggest that by enhancing companionship for some HIV-infected persons, pets may buffer the stressful impact of AIDS.

Childhood asthma at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi

anthrozoology — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:34:05 +1100

Macharia, W. M., N. M. Mirza, et al.

East Afr Med J 67(12): 837-41. (1990).

Between January 1986 and July 1988, 356 children with bronchial asthma below 14 years of age were evaluated at the Kenyatta National Hospital. 21.3% experienced initial asthmatic attacks before the age of six months and 55.1% before 2 years. Only 8% of the study patients were below the age of 2 years at recruitment. The male:female ratio was 1:1. Physical exercise led to precipitation or worsening of attacks in 43.4% while 71.6% of the patients experienced attacks in the evening or at night. 18.5% and 42.9% had personal history of atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis respectively. The study shows that a substantial number of patients experience initial asthmatic attacks before the age of 6 months contrary to what has been previously believed.

Immunotherapy in childhood asthma

anthrozoology — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:32:47 +1100

Buenfil Lopez, J. A.

Rev Alerg Mex 44(3): 67-9. (1997).

It was accomplished a prospective study with 100 pediatric patients (60 children- and 40 girls) with the diagnoses of chronic rhinitis and bronchial asthma and reactivity allergic to three or more antigens environmental related to exacerbation of disease and whose symptoms were impeding a normal life. It was then included in a program of immunotherapy in compliance with the plan that has in the Centro Regional para la Prevencion y el Tratamiento de las Enfermedades Alergicas (CRPTEA) of the Hospital Universitario de la Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, as well as an education and rehabilitation program of the patient and family. There was a notable improvement, clinically demonstrated by the important decrease in the quantity of asthmatic crises and rapid answer to drugs, being integrated to a life of better quality, with good scholastic exploitation, suitable allowance to exercise and quiet sleep. It was concluded that, in well selected asthmatic patients, it is justified the immunotherapy, when it can be demonstrated specific sensitisation to allergens by tests cutaneous and that unfetter the symptoms and that they do not answer adequately to pharmacotherapy of first line.

Pets &amp; human asthma,allergy &amp; immune system