Pollen Allergies in Humans and their Dogs, Cats and Horses: Differences and Similarities.
- Journal Article
Summary
The research article explores the similarities and differences in pollen allergies among humans, dogs, cats, and horses. It suggests that these animals could be potential models for studying allergies and developing treatments in humans.
Similar Allergic Reactions
Humans and their domestic animals exhibit similar allergic reactions as they both have Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and similar IgE receptor repertoire and expression pattern. This implies that when exposed to allergens like pollen, the same cell types are involved in allergic responses. These include mast cells, eosinophils or T-regulatory cells which are largely responsible for triggering or regulating allergies.
Varying Symptoms
While there are similarities, there are also differences in how these allergies manifest across species. Pollen allergies in dogs typically cause eczematous lesions, which are chronic skin conditions characterized by inflammation and itching. Horses react to pollen allergies through recurrent airway obstruction or hives as well as pruritic dermatitis, a type of skin inflammation causing intense itching. Cats often suffer from bronchial asthma and a variety of skin reactions.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The article also touches on the differences in diagnosing allergies. In humans, allergy-specific IgE detection, skin tests or other allergen provocation tests are often used. However, in animals, IgE and dermal tests are viewed as equally important. For practical and economic reasons, intradermal tests are most commonly administered in a specialized veterinary practice. Despite the differences, allergen immunotherapy is found to significantly improve clinical symptoms in all subjects – humans, dogs, cats, and horses.
Possible Study Models
In conclusion, the researchers suggest that dogs, cats, and horses, with their spontaneous allergies, could serve as attractive model subjects in translational studies. They note that clinical studies in these domestic animals could not only help find cures for animal allergies but also gather valuable knowledge relevent for human patients.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, c/o Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Währinger G. 18-20, Vienna, 1090 Austria.
- Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, c/o Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Währinger G. 18-20, Vienna, 1090 Austria.
- Dermatology Unit, Clinics of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Dermatology Unit, Clinics of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Dermatology Unit, Clinics of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Grant Funding
- F 4606 / Austrian Science Fund FWF
References
- Schafer T, Merkl J, Klemm E, Wichmann HE, Ring J. We and our pets: allergic together?. Acta Vet Hung 2008;56:153–161.
- Bousquet PJ, Burbach G, Heinzerling LM, Edenharter G, Bachert C, Bindslev-Jensen C. GA2LEN skin test study III: minimum battery of test inhalent allergens needed in epidemiological studies in patients. Allergy 2009;64:1656–1662.
- Necas M. Atopy patch testing with airborne allergens. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Panonica Adriat 2013;22:39–42.
- Heinzerling L, Frew AJ, Bindslev-Jensen C, Bonini S, Bousquet J, Bresciani M. Standard skin prick testing and sensitization to inhalant allergens across Europe–a survey from the GALEN network. Allergy 2005;60:1287–1300.
- Canonica GW, Ansotegui IJ, Pawankar R, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, van Hage M, Baena-Cagnani CE. A WAO - ARIA - GA(2)LEN consensus document on molecular-based allergy diagnostics. World Allergy Organ J 2013;6:17.
- Dondi A, Tripodi S, Panetta V, Asero R, Businco AD, Bianchi A. Pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in 1360 Italian children: comorbidities and determinants of severity. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2013;24:742–751.
- Bousquet J, Schunemann HJ, Samolinski B, Demoly P, Baena-Cagnani CE, Bachert C. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA): achievements in 10 years and future needs. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012;130:1049–1062.
- Kiotseridis H, Cilio CM, Bjermer L, Tunsater A, Jacobsson H, Dahl A. Grass pollen allergy in children and adolescents-symptoms, health related quality of life and the value of pollen prognosis. Clin Transl Allergy 2013;3:19.
- Delgado J, Davila ID, Dominguez-Ortega J, Quirce S, Marti-Guadano E, Valero A. Quality of life in patients with respiratory allergy is influenced by the causative allergen. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2013;23:309–314.
- Petersen KD, Kronborg C, Larsen JN, Dahl R, Gyrd-Hansen D. Patient related outcomes in a real life prospective follow up study: Allergen immunotherapy increase quality of life and reduce sick days. World Allergy Organ J 2013;6:15.
- Halliwell R. Revised nomenclature for veterinary allergy. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2006;114:207–208.
- Tiniakov RL, Tiniakova OP, McLeod RL, Hey JA, Yeates DB. Canine model of nasal congestion and allergic rhinitis. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2003;94:1821–1828.
- Plickert HD, Tichy A, Hirt RA. Characteristics of canine nasal discharge related to intranasal diseases: a retrospective study of 105 cases. J Small Anim Pract 2014;55:145–152.
- Barrs VR, van Doorn TM, Houbraken J, Kidd SE, Martin P, Pinheiro MD. Aspergillus felis sp. nov., an emerging agent of invasive aspergillosis in humans, cats, and dogs. PLoS One 2013;8:e64871.
- Mercier E, Peters IR, Billen F, Battaille G, Clercx C, Day MJ. Potential role of Alternaria and Cladosporium species in canine lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis. J Small Anim Pract 2013;54:179–183.
- Favrot C, Steffan J, Seewald W, Picco F. A prospective study on the clinical features of chronic canine atopic dermatitis and its diagnosis. Vet Dermatol 2010;21:23–31.
- Furiani N, Scarampella F, Martino PA, Panzini I, Fabbri E, Ordeix L. Evaluation of the bacterial microflora of the conjunctival sac of healthy dogs and dogs with atopic dermatitis. Vet Dermatol 2011;22:490–496.
- Halliwell RE, DeBoer DJ. The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (III): the role of antibodies in canine atopic dermatitis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2001;81:159–167.
- Lund EM, Armstrong PJ, Kirk CA, Kolar LM, Klausner JS. Health status and population characteristics of dogs and cats examined at private veterinary practices in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;214:1336–1341.
- Owczarek-Lipska M, Lauber B, Molitor V, Meury S, Kierczak M, Tengvall K. Two loci on chromosome 5 are associated with serum IgE levels in Labrador retrievers. PLoS One 2012;7:e39176.
- Kim HJ, Kang MH, Park HM. Common allergens of atopic dermatitis in dogs: comparative findings based on intradermal tests. J Vet Sci 2011;12:287–290.
- Picco F, Zini E, Nett C, Naegeli C, Bigler B, Rufenacht S. A prospective study on canine atopic dermatitis and food-induced allergic dermatitis in Switzerland. Vet Dermatol 2008;19:150–155.
- Mapp C, Hartiala J, Frick OL, Shields RL, Gold WM. Airway responsiveness to inhaled antigen, histamine, and methacholine in inbred, ragweed-sensitized dogs. Am Rev Respir Dis 1985;132:292–298.
- Royer CM, Rudolph K, Barrett EG. The neonatal susceptibility window for inhalant allergen sensitization in the atopically predisposed canine asthma model. Immunology 2013;138:361–369.
- Mueller RS, Bettenay SV, Tideman L. Aero-allergens in canine atopic dermatitis in southeastern Australia based on 1000 intradermal skin tests. Aust Vet J 2000;78:392–399.
- Stedman K, Lee K, Hunter S, Rivoire B, McCall C, Wassom D. Measurement of canine IgE using the alpha chain of the human high affinity IgE receptor. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2001;78:349–355.
- Ye H, Housden JE, Hunter M, Sabban S, Helm BA. Identification of amino acid residues involved in the interaction of canine IgE with canine and human FcepsilonRIalpha. Mol Immunol 2014;57:111–118.
- Buckley L, Schmidt V, McEwan N, Nuttall T. Cross-reaction and co-sensitization among related and unrelated allergens in canine intradermal tests. Vet Dermatol 2013;24:422–427.
- Roussel AJ, Bruet V, Bourdeau PJ. Characterisation of dog sensitisation to grass pollen in western France from 1999 to 2010. Vet Rec 2013;172:686.
- Mueller RS, Chapman PL. Cross reactivity of airborne allergens based on 1000 intradermal test results. Aust Vet J 2004;82:351–354.
- Masuda K, Sakaguchi M, Fujiwara S, Kurata K, Yamashita K, Odagiri T. Positive reactions to common allergens in 42 atopic dogs in Japan. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2000;73:193–204.
- Kusunoki T, Korematsu S, Harazaki M, Ito M, Hosoi S. [Recent pollen sensitization and its possible involvement in allergic diseases among children in a pediatric allergy clinic]. Arerugi 1999;48:1166–1171.
- Fujieda S, Kurono Y, Okubo K, Ichimura K, Enomoto T, Kawauchi H. Examination, diagnosis and classification for Japanese allergic rhinitis: Japanese guideline. Auris Nasus Larynx 2012;39:553–556.
- Kubota S, Miyaji K, Shimo Y, Shimakura H, Takase Y, Okamoto N. IgE reactivity to a Cry j 3, an allergen of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen in dogs with canine atopic dermatitis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012;149:132–135.
- Fujimura M, Ohmori K, Masuda K, Tsujimoto H, Sakaguchi M. Oral allergy syndrome induced by tomato in a dog with Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis. J Vet Med Sci 2002;64:1069–1070.
- Chanthick C, Anaman S, Buathet K. The prevalence of positive intradermal allergy tests in 114 dogs with atopic dermatitis in the Bangkok metropolis, Thailand. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2008;126:256–262.
- Yuenyongviwat A, Koonrangsesomboon D, Sangsupawanich P. Recent 5-year trends of asthma severity and allergen sensitization among children in southern Thailand. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2013;31:242–246.
- Hobi S, Mueller RS. Efficacy and safety of rush immunotherapy with alum-precipitated allergens in canine atopic dermatitis. Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2014;42:167–173.
- Olivry T, DeBoer DJ, Favrot C, Jackson HA, Mueller RS, Nuttall T. Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2010 clinical practice guidelines from the International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis. Vet Dermatol 2010;21:233–248.
- Darsow U. Allergen-specific immunotherapy for atopic eczema: updated. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2012;12:665–669.
- Griffin CE, Hillier A. The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (XXIV): allergen-specific immunotherapy. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2001;81:363–383.
- Loewenstein C, Mueller RS. A review of allergen-specific immunotherapy in human and veterinary medicine. Vet Dermatol 2009;20:84–98.
- Ravens PA, Xu BJ, Vogelnest LJ. Feline atopic dermatitis: a retrospective study of 45 cases (2001-2012). Vet Dermatol 2014;25:95–102.
- Masuda K, Kurata K, Sakaguchi M, Yamashita K, Hasegawa A, Ohno K. Seasonal rhinitis in a cat sensitized to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen. J Vet Med Sci 2001;63:79–81.
- Johnson LR, Vernau W. Bronchoscopic findings in 48 cats with spontaneous lower respiratory tract disease (2002-2009). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:236–243.
- Lee-Fowler TM, Cohn LA, DeClue AE, Spinka CM, Reinero CR. Evaluation of subcutaneous versus mucosal (intranasal) allergen-specific rush immunotherapy in experimental feline asthma. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2009;129:49–56.
- Reinero CR, Cohn LA, Delgado C, Spinka CM, Schooley EK, DeClue AE. Adjuvanted rush immunotherapy using CpG oligodeoxynucleotides in experimental feline allergic asthma. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2008;121:241–250.
- Steffan J, Olivry T, Forster SL, Seewald W. Responsiveness and validity of the SCORFAD, an extent and severity scale for feline hypersensitivity dermatitis. Vet Dermatol 2012;23:410–e477.
- Belova S, Wilhelm S, Linek M, Beco L, Fontaine J, Bergvall K. Factors affecting allergen-specific IgE serum levels in cats. Can J Vet Res 2012;76:45–51.
- Loft KE, Pedersen K. The presence of pollen and house dust mite allergen-specific IgE in serum of 15 SPF cats and prevalence of house dust mite allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 1, Dermatophagoides farinae 1, and mite group 2) in their microenvironment. Vet Dermatol 2007;18:184.
- Loft KE, Rosser EJ Jr. Group 1 and 2 Dermatophagoides house dust mite allergens in the microenvironment of cats. Vet Dermatol 2010;21:152–158.
- Schleifer SG, Willemse T. Evaluation of skin test reactivity to environmental allergens in healthy cats and cats with atopic dermatitis. Am J Vet Res 2003;64:773–778.
- Foster AP, O’Dair HA, DeBoer DJ. Allergen-specific IgG antibodies in cats with allergic skin disease. Res Vet Sci 1997;63:239–243.
- King S, Favrot C, Messinger L, Nuttall T, Steffan J, Forster S. A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study to evaluate an effective ciclosporin dose for the treatment of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis. Vet Dermatol 2012;23:440–e484.
- Reinero CR. Feline immunoglobulin E: historical perspective, diagnostics and clinical relevance. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2009;132:13–20.
- Wisselink MA, Willemse T. The efficacy of cyclosporine A in cats with presumed atopic dermatitis: a double blind, randomised prednisolone-controlled study. Vet J 2009;180:55–59.
- Ganz EC, Griffin CE, Keys DA, Flatgard TA. Evaluation of methylprednisolone and triamcinolone for the induction and maintenance treatment of pruritus in allergic cats: a double-blinded, randomized, prospective study. Vet Dermatol 2012;23:387–e372.
- Trimmer AM, Griffin CE, Boord MJ, Rosenkrantz WS. Rush allergen specific immunotherapy protocol in feline atopic dermatitis: a pilot study of four cats. Vet Dermatol 2005;16:324–329.
- Halliwell RE. Efficacy of hyposensitization in feline allergic diseases based upon results of in vitro testing for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1997;33:282–288.
- Reinero C, Lee-Fowler T, Chang CH, Cohn L, Declue A. Beneficial cross-protection of allergen-specific immunotherapy on airway eosinophilia using unrelated or a partial repertoire of allergen(s) implicated in experimental feline asthma. Vet J 2012;192:412–416.
- Fadok VA. Update on equine allergies. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2013;29:541–550.
- Stepnik CT, Outerbridge CA, White SD, Kass PH. Equine atopic skin disease and response to allergen-specific immunotherapy: a retrospective study at the University of California-Davis (1991-2008). Vet Dermatol 2012;23:29–35.
- Francqueville M, Sabbah A. [Allergic rhinitis in the horse: first case]. Allerg Immunol (Paris) 1990;22:56–60.
- Ward MP, Couetil LL. Climatic and aeroallergen risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in horses. Am J Vet Res 2005;66:818–824.
- Dixon PM, McGorum B. Pasture-associated seasonal respiratory disease in two horses. Vet Rec 1990;126:9–12.
- Griffin C. Equine skin diseases that every practitioner should know about. 27th Annual Congress of the ESVD-ECVD; Salzburg, Austria. 2014.
- Tahon L, Baselgia S, Gerber V, Doherr MG, Straub R, Robinson NE. In vitro allergy tests compared to intradermal testing in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2009;127:85–93.
- Scharrenberg A, Gerber V, Swinburne JE, Wilson AD, Klukowska-Rotzler J, Laumen E. IgE, IgGa, IgGb and IgG(T) serum antibody levels in offspring of two sires affected with equine recurrent airway obstruction. Anim Genet 2010;41(Suppl 2):131–137.
- Kalina WV, Pettigrew HD, Gershwin LJ. IgE ELISA using antisera derived from epsilon chain antigenic peptides detects allergen-specific IgE in allergic horses. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2003;92:137–147.
- Aharonson-Raz K, Lohmann KL, Townsend HG, Marques F, Singh B. Pulmonary intravascular macrophages as proinflammatory cells in heaves, an asthma-like equine disease. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2012;303:L189–198.
- Pirie RS. Recurrent airway obstruction: A review. Equine Vet J 2014;46(3):276–88.
- Moran G, Folch H, Henriquez C, Ortloff A, Barria M. Reaginic antibodies from horses with recurrent airway obstruction produce mast cell stimulation. Vet Res Commun 2012;36:251–258.
- Zur G, White SD, Ihrke PJ, Kass PH, Toebe N. Canine atopic dermatitis: a retrospective study of 169 cases examined at the University of California, Davis, 1992-1998. Part II. Response to hyposensitization. Vet Dermatol 2002;13:103–111.
- Nesbitt GH. Canine allergic inhalant dermatitis: a review of 230 cases. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1978;172:55–60.
- Nesbitt GH, Kedan GS, Cacciolo P. Canine atopy. Ethiology and diagnosis. Compendium on Continuing Education Practice Vet 1984;6:73–85.
- Sture GH, Halliwell RE, Thoday KL, van den Broek AH, Henfrey JI, Lloyd DH. Canine atopic disease: the prevalence of positive intradermal skin tests at two sites in the north and south of Great Britain. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 1995;44:293–308.
- Stursberg U. Felines Asthma und chronische Bronchitis: Untersuchungen zu Anamnese, Allergiediagnostik und Therapie mit Propentofyllin. Tierärztliche Fakultät: LMU München; 2010.
- Kolm-Stark G, Wagner R. Intradermal skin testing in Icelandic horses in Austria. Equine Vet J 2002;34:405–410.
- Temizel EM, Aytug N. Intradermal Testing Results and Clinical Features in Dogs with Atopic Dermatitis in Turkey. J Biol Environ Sci 2011;5:87–89.
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Ban-Cucerzan A, Obistioiu D, Imre K, Morar A, Florea T, Popa SA, Pătrînjan RT, Șerdean M, Tîrziu E. Serological Investigations on Environmental Allergens Triggering Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs from Western Romania. Vet Sci 2025 Apr 5;12(4).
- Fegraeus K, Riihimäki M, Nordlund J, Akula S, Wernersson S, Raine A. Exploring a pico-well based scRNA-seq method (HIVE) for simplified processing of equine bronchoalveolar lavage cells. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0317343.
- Pessoa VC, Branco-Ferreira M, Jónsdóttir S, Marti E, Tilley P. Comparison of Skin Prick Tests (SPT), Intradermal Tests (IDT) and In Vitro Tests in the Characterization of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH) in a Population of Lusitano Horses: Contribution for Future Implementation of SPT in IBH Diagnosis. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 28;13(17).
- Markey E, Hourihane Clancy J, Martínez-Bracero M, Neeson F, Sarda-Estève R, Baisnée D, McGillicuddy EJ, Sewell G, O'Connor DJ. A Modified Spectroscopic Approach for the Real-Time Detection of Pollen and Fungal Spores at a Semi-Urban Site Using the WIBS-4+, Part I. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Nov 12;22(22).
- Borowska A, Wolska D, Niedzwiedz A, Borowicz H, Jaworski Z, Siemieniuch M, Szwaczkowski T. Some Genetic and Environmental Effects on Equine Asthma in Polish Konik Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 3;11(8).
- Gorczynski RM, Maqbool T, Hoffmann G. Combined IMIG and Immune Ig Attenuate Allergic Responses in Beagle Dogs. J Immunol Res 2020;2020:2061609.
- Satoh R, Jensen-Jarolim E, Teshima R. Understanding buckwheat allergies for the management of allergic reactions in humans and animals. Breed Sci 2020 Mar;70(1):85-92.
- Gedon NKY, Mueller RS. Atopic dermatitis in cats and dogs: a difficult disease for animals and owners. Clin Transl Allergy 2018;8:41.
- Rosenberg HF, Druey KM. Modeling asthma: Pitfalls, promises, and the road ahead. J Leukoc Biol 2018 Jul;104(1):41-48.
- Einhorn L, Hofstetter G, Brandt S, Hainisch EK, Fukuda I, Kusano K, Scheynius A, Mittermann I, Resch-Marat Y, Vrtala S, Valenta R, Marti E, Rhyner C, Crameri R, Satoh R, Teshima R, Tanaka A, Sato H, Matsuda H, Pali-Schöll I, Jensen-Jarolim E. Molecular allergen profiling in horses by microarray reveals Fag e 2 from buckwheat as a frequent sensitizer. Allergy 2018 Jul;73(7):1436-1446.
- Herrmann I, Einhorn L, Panakova L. Gender aspects in allergies of pets - A secondary publication and update. World Allergy Organ J 2017;10(1):42.
- Marsella R, De Benedetto A. Atopic Dermatitis in Animals and People: An Update and Comparative Review. Vet Sci 2017 Jul 26;4(3).
- Jensen-Jarolim E, Bax HJ, Bianchini R, Crescioli S, Daniels-Wells TR, Dombrowicz D, Fiebiger E, Gould HJ, Irshad S, Janda J, Josephs DH, Levi-Schaffer F, O'Mahony L, Pellizzari G, Penichet ML, Redegeld F, Roth-Walter F, Singer J, Untersmayr E, Vangelista L, Karagiannis SN. AllergoOncology: Opposite outcomes of immune tolerance in allergy and cancer. Allergy 2018 Feb;73(2):328-340.
- Oida K, Einhorn L, Herrmann I, Panakova L, Resch Y, Vrtala S, Hofstetter G, Tanaka A, Matsuda H, Jensen-Jarolim E. Innate function of house dust mite allergens: robust enzymatic degradation of extracellular matrix at elevated pH. World Allergy Organ J 2017;10(1):23.
- Jensen-Jarolim E, Pali-Schöll I, Roth-Walter F. Outstanding animal studies in allergy I. From asthma to food allergy and anaphylaxis. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2017 Jun;17(3):169-179.
- Martins LM, Marques AG, Pereira LM, Semião-Santos SJ, Bento OP. Allergy to grass pollen: mapping of Dactylis glomerata and Phleum pratense allergens for dogs by two-dimensional immunoblotting. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2017 Feb;34(1):60-69.
- Jensen-Jarolim E, Pacios LF, Bianchini R, Hofstetter G, Roth-Walter F. Structural similarities of human and mammalian lipocalins, and their function in innate immunity and allergy. Allergy 2016 Mar;71(3):286-94.