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Allergologie select2024; 8; 51-63; doi: 10.5414/ALX02449E

Animal exposure, sensitization, and allergic symptoms in first-year veterinary medicine students.

Abstract: The AllergoVet study longitudinally examines the influence of animal exposure on the development of sensitization and allergic diseases among veterinary medicine students. In this group, contact to animals usually existed long before the study began. Therefore, the aim of this analysis was to investigate lifelong animal species-specific exposure and the prevalence of sensitizations and allergic symptoms already existing before the start of the study. Questionnaire data, including exposure history, were summarized to determine the duration and intensity of animal-related exposure as well as the prevalence of allergic symptoms to animals. Serologically, specific IgE was determined against ubiquitous inhalant allergens (atopy screen sx1) and against animal allergens using ImmunoCAP. The association between animal-specific sensitization, allergic symptoms, and exposure was analyzed using Fisher's exact test or Cochran-Armitage trend test. All study participants (n = 313) had previous contact with animals, with dogs mentioned most frequently (91.1%) followed by cats (89.5%) and horses (72.2%). Sensitization to ubiquitous allergens (positive sx1 value) was detected in 38.4% of subjects. Approximately 11%, 7%, and 5% were sensitized to cats, dogs, and horses, respectively. Only a small proportion of these sensitizations were associated with self-reported symptoms (41% for cat, 9% for dog, and 13% for horse). While no significant association between animal-specific exposure and sensitization was found for cats and horses, a clear trend emerged for dogs. With increasing duration of exposure to dogs, the number of dog-specific sensitizations decreased significantly (p = 0.0069). Furthermore, a decreasing trend in sx1 sensitization was noted with increasing cat (p = 0.0288) and dog (p = 0.0107) exposure. None of the subjects who grew up on a farm (n = 40) had any sensitization to animals. The sensitization prevalence determined among first-year students in veterinary medicine roughly corresponds to that in the general population. Most animal sensitizations were not clinically relevant. In this collective, a protective effect of increasing exposure to animals in childhood and adolescence was found on sensitization, which was particularly pronounced during contact with dogs.
© Dustri-Verlag Dr. K. Feistle.
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Publication Date: 2024-03-21 PubMed ID: 38549810PubMed Central: PMC10975734DOI: 10.5414/ALX02449EGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study investigated how lifelong exposure to different animals affects the development of allergic sensitizations and symptoms in first-year veterinary medicine students.
  • The study found that increased exposure to animals, especially dogs, during childhood and adolescence is associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic sensitization.

Study Objective and Background

  • The research aimed to examine the relationship between animal exposure, allergic sensitization, and allergic symptoms in veterinary students before their formal education began.
  • Since these students typically have extensive contact with animals prior to the study, the focus was on existing sensitizations and symptoms related to different animal species.

Methods

  • Participants: 313 first-year veterinary medicine students.
  • Data Collection:
    • Questionnaires assessing lifelong exposure to animals, including intensity and duration.
    • Self-reported allergic symptoms related to animal exposure.
  • Serological Tests:
    • Measurement of specific IgE antibodies against common inhalant allergens (sx1 panel).
    • Measurement of IgE antibodies specific to animal allergens (cats, dogs, horses) using ImmunoCAP technology.
  • Statistical Analyses:
    • Used Fisher’s exact test and Cochran-Armitage trend test to analyze associations between animal exposure, sensitization, and symptoms.

Key Findings

  • Exposure Patterns:
    • All participants had prior animal contact.
    • Dogs were the most commonly encountered animals (91.1%), followed by cats (89.5%) and horses (72.2%).
  • Prevalence of Sensitization:
    • 38.4% were sensitized to common inhalant allergens in general.
    • 11% were sensitized to cat allergens, 7% to dog allergens, and 5% to horse allergens.
  • Clinical Relevance of Sensitizations:
    • Only a subset of sensitized individuals reported allergic symptoms to the respective animals:
      • 41% for cat sensitization.
      • 9% for dog sensitization.
      • 13% for horse sensitization.
  • Exposure-Sensitization Relationship:
    • No significant link for cats and horses between exposure and sensitization.
    • A significant protective trend for dog exposure:
      • Longer duration of dog exposure correlated with fewer dog-specific sensitizations (p = 0.0069).
      • Similar decreasing trends in overall inhalant sensitization (sx1 panel) were observed with increased dog (p = 0.0107) and cat (p = 0.0288) exposure.
    • None of the students raised on farms (n = 40) showed animal sensitizations, suggesting a strong protective effect related to farm environments.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The prevalence of sensitization in veterinary students was comparable to that in the general population.
  • Most allergic sensitizations detected were not accompanied by symptoms, indicating limited clinical impact at this stage.
  • Higher exposure to animals during childhood and adolescence, especially dogs, appears to have a protective effect against developing sensitization to animal allergens.
  • The results support the idea that early and sustained animal contact might reduce the risk of becoming allergic, which has implications for allergy prevention strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Zahradnik E, Nöllenheidt C, Sander I, Beine A, Lehnert M, Hoffmeyer F, Raulf M. (2024). Animal exposure, sensitization, and allergic symptoms in first-year veterinary medicine students. Allergol Select, 8, 51-63. https://doi.org/10.5414/ALX02449E

Publication

Allergologie select
ISSN: 2512-8957
NlmUniqueID: 101722686
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 51-63

Researcher Affiliations

Zahradnik, Eva
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Nöllenheidt, Christoph
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Sander, Ingrid
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Beine, Alexandra
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Lehnert, Martin
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Hoffmeyer, Frank
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Raulf, Monika
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

All authors declare that no conflict of interest exists. Table 1.Descriptive characteristics of study participants. CharacteristicTotal (n = 313)Females (n = 264)Males (n = 49)p-value*Age, median (range)20 (17-42)20 (17-42)20 (18-33)Current smoker, n (%)43 (13.7)27 (10.2)16 (32.7)0.0002Childhood on farm with animals, n (%)40 (12.8)34 (12.9)6 (12.2)> 0.9999Animal-related education before the veterinary study#, n (%)80 (25.6)64 (24.2)16 (32.7)0.2166Allergic disease** (any), 124 (39.6)106 (40.2)18 (36.7)0.7510   Asthma, n (%)33 (10.5)27 (10.2)6 (12.2)0.6187   Rhinitis, n (%)53 (16.9)44 (16.7)9 (18.4)0.8356   Neurodermatitis, n (%)44 (14.1)40 (15.2)4 (8.2)0.2639   Contact dermatitis, n (%)10 (3.2)9 (3.4)1 (2.0)> 0.9999   Urticaria, n (%)16 (5.1)14 (5.3)2 (4.1)> 0.9999   Food allergy, n (%)30 (9.6)28 (10.6)2 (4.1)0.1929   Insect allergy, n (%)9 (2.9)8 (3.0)1 (2.0)> 0.9999Allergic symptoms to animals*** (any)30 (9.6)24 (9.1)6 (12.2)0.4391   Cat, n (%)23 (7.3)20 (7.6)3 (6.1)> 0.9999   Dog, n (%)7 (2.2)5 (1.9)2 (4.1)0.3015   Horse, n (%)7 (2.2)5 (1.9)2 (4.1)0.3015   Small mammals#, n (%)6 (1.9)5 (1.9)1 (2.0)> 0.9999   Others (birds), n (%)3 (1.0)2 (0.8)1 (2.0)0.4010Previous contact to animals (any)313 (100)   Cat, n (%)280 (89.5)239 (90.5)41 (83.7)0.2010   Dog, n (%)285 (91.1)242 (91.7)43 (87.8)0.4118   Horse, n (%)226 (72.2)207 (78.4)19 (38.8)< 0.0001   Small mammals&, n (%)275 (87.9)238 (90.2)37 (75.5)0.0077   Others (non-mammals)§, n (%)210 (67.1)175 (66.3)35 (71.4)0.5133   Farm animals$, n (%)164 (52.4)136 (51.5)28 (57.1)0.5344Current pet ownership (any)115 (36.7)99 (37.5)16 (32.7)0.6288   Cat, n (%)51 (16.3)49 (18.6)2 (4.1)0.0103   Dog, n (%)63 (20.1)54 (20.5)9 (18.4)0.8475   Small mammals&, n (%)28 (8.9)26 (9.8)2 (4.1)0.2773   Others (non-mammals)§, n (%)27 (8.6)20 (7.6)7 (14.3)0.1606*Females vs. males, Fisher’s exact test; **doctor’s diagnosis; ***self-reported symptoms; #veterinary technicians, animal caretaker, farmer, biologist, veterinary technical assistant, animal healer, hoof orthopedist, equine ostheopath, butcher; &rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil, mouse, rat, chinchilla, ferret, degus, marten, hedgehog; §birds (incl. poultry), fish, reptiles; $cattle, pig, goat, sheep. Bold = significantly different frequencies. Table 2.Total and specific IgE antibodies. Total (n = 313)Females (n = 264)Males (n = 49)p-value*Total IgE > 100 kU/Ln (%)83 (26.5%)68 (25.8%)15 (30.6%)0.484IgE kU/L 218 (103 – 3,436)220 (103 – 3,436)168 (110 – 492)sx1 positivesn (%)120 (38.4%)92 (34.8%)28 (57.1%)0.004sIgE kU/L 8.64 (0.36 – 883)8.63 (0.36 – 883)9.80 (0.39 – 54.2)HDM positivesn (%)76 (24.3%)59 (22.3%)17 (34.7%)0.071sIgE kU/L9.34 (0.36 – 518)8.39 (0.36 – 518)11.6 (0.40 – 20.4)Cat positivesn (%)34 (10.9%)29 (11.0%)5 (10.2%)>0.999sIgE kU/L1.65 (0.36 – 244)1.97 (0.36 – 244)0.72 (0.58 – 7.52)Dog positivesn (%)22 (7.0%)18 (6.8%)4 (8.2%)0.760sIgE kU/L0.98 (0.36 – 8.72)0.98 (0.36 – 8.72)0.98 (0.43 – 3.34)Horse positivesn (%)16 (5.1%)15 (5.7%)1 (2.0%)0.482sIgE kU/L0.59 (0.36 – 7.73)0.56 (0.36 – 7.73)1.93Cattle positivesn (%)8 (2.6%)5 (1.9%)3 (6.1%)0.114sIgE kU/L0.55 (0.36 – 1.79)0.50 (0.36 – 1.20)1.01 (0.45 – 1.06)IgE concentrations in kU/L are presented as median with range. *Females vs. males, Fisher’s exact test. sIgE = specific IgE; HDM = house dust mite. Bold = significantly different frequencies. Figure 1.Sensitization profile of 47 individuals with specific IgE reactivity to animals. A) Distribution of CAP-classes. B) Number of animal sensitizations. C) Distribution of mono- and poly-sensitizations.Figure 2.Distribution of single allergen components in subjects with sensitization to cat (A), dog (B), and horse (C).Figure 3.Relationship between sensitization and self-reported allergic symptoms to cats (A), dogs (B), and horses (C).Figure 4.Specific IgE levels (A, B, C) and the proportion of specific IgE to total IgE (D, E, F) in subjects sensitized to cats (A and D), dogs (B and E), and horses (C and F). The vertical solid lines represent medians, and the dashed lines show the IgE cut-off value of 0.35 kU/L. Statistical significance was tested using the Mann-Whitney test.Figure 5.Relationship between sensitization and categories of life-time exposure to cats (A), dogs (B), and horses (C).

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