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Home / Equine Research Bank / Clin Exp Allergy / Levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 in dander and saliva from t...
Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology2019; 49(5); 701-711; doi: 10.1111/cea.13362

Levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 in dander and saliva from ten horse breeds.

Abstract: Horses are an important source of allergens, but the distribution of horse allergens is poorly understood. Five horse allergens have been identified, Equ c 1-4 and 6. Equ c 4 seems to be an important allergen, with an IgE-binding frequency of 77% in horse-sensitized individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 in dander, saliva and urine from ten horse breeds. The study population included 170 horses (87 mares, 27 stallions, 56 geldings) from ten breeds. Horse dander, saliva and urine samples were collected. Levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 were quantified using a two-site sandwich ELISA (mAb 103 and 14G4) and were expressed as Equ c 4 U/μg protein. The horse allergen Equ c 4 was present in all dander and saliva samples from ten horse breeds, with high within-breed and inter-breed variations; GM values were 639 Equ c 4 U/μg protein (range 5-15 264) for dander and 39.5 (4-263) for saliva. Equ c 4 was found in 19/21 urine samples. Adjusted for age, sex and changes over time, no differences between breeds could be seen in dander, while in saliva the North Swedish horse showed lower levels of Equ c 4 than any other breed. The levels of Equ c 4 protein in dander and saliva were significantly higher in samples from stallions compared to mares and geldings, independent of breed. The results show a high variability in allergen levels of Equ c 4 in dander and saliva both within and between breeds. Significantly higher levels were found in stallions compared to mares and geldings, independent of breed. Results suggest that none of the horse breeds studied can be recommended for individuals allergic to Equ c 4.
© 2019 The Authors. Clinical & Experimental Allergy Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-02-27 PubMed ID: 30716182PubMed Central: PMC6850112DOI: 10.1111/cea.13362Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study examined the levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 in the dander, saliva, and urine across ten different horse breeds, and found significant variations in allergen levels both within and between breeds, particularly higher levels in stallions compared to mares and geldings.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The primary aim of this research was to investigate the concentrations of the Equ c 4 horse allergen in different samples from various horse breeds. This allergen has been found to cause an IgE-binding response in 77% of individuals who are sensitized to horses.
  • The study involved 170 horses, including 87 mares, 27 stallions, and 56 geldings, from ten different breeds.
  • Samples of horse dander, saliva, and urine were collected from each animal for analysis.
  • The levels of the Equ c 4 allergen in these samples were determined using a two-site sandwich ELISA method and expressed as Equ c 4 U/µg protein.

Findings

  • The Equ c 4 allergen was detected in all dander and saliva samples from each of the ten horse breeds, with a wide variation in levels both within and between breeds.
  • The geometric mean (GM) values were 639 Equ c 4 U/µg protein (range 5-15,264) for dander and 39.5 (range 4-263) for saliva.
  • Among the urine samples, 19 out of 21 showed the presence of Equ c 4.
  • In saliva, North Swedish horses were found to have lower levels of the Equ c 4 allergen as compared to other breeds.
  • Significantly higher levels of the allergen in dander and saliva were found in samples from stallions in comparison to mares and geldings, regardless of breed.

Conclusions

  • The research shows there is considerable variability in the concentrations of the Equ c 4 allergen in horse dander and saliva among and within different horse breeds.
  • The levels of the Equ c 4 allergen were typically higher in stallions than in mares and geldings. This difference was found to be independent of the breed of the horse.
  • Given the findings, the researchers suggest it is not advisable for individuals allergic to Equ c 4 to have contact with any of the horse breeds studied in this research.

Cite This Article

APA
Victor S, Binnmyr J, Lampa E, Rask-Andersen A, Elfman L. (2019). Levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 in dander and saliva from ten horse breeds. Clin Exp Allergy, 49(5), 701-711. https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.13362

Publication

Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
ISSN: 1365-2222
NlmUniqueID: 8906443
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 5
Pages: 701-711

Researcher Affiliations

Victor, Susanne
  • Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Binnmyr, Jonas
  • Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Therapeutic Immune Design Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Lampa, Erik
  • Uppsala Clinical Research Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rask-Andersen, Anna
  • Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Elfman, Lena
  • Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Allergens / immunology
  • Allergens / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Biomarkers
  • Dander / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Lipocalins / immunology
  • Lipocalins / metabolism
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Species Specificity

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Victor S, Lampa E, Rask Andersen A, Gafvelin G, Grönlund H, Elfman L. Measurement of Horse Allergens Equ c 1 and Equ c 2: A Comparison among Breeds. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2022;183(11):1166-1177.
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