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In national bovine tuberculosis (BTB) control programmes, testing is generally conducted using a single source of bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin. Alternative tuberculin sources should be identified as part of a broad risk management strategy as problems of supply or quality cannot be discounted. This study was conducted to compare the impact of different potencies of a single bovine PPD tuberculin on the field performance of the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) and single intradermal test (SIT). Three trial potencies of bovine PPD tuberculin, as assayed in naturally infected bovines, namely, low (1192 IU/dose), normal (6184 IU/dose) and high (12,554 IU/dose) were used. Three SICTTs (using) were conducted on 2102 animals. Test results were compared based on reactor-status and changes in skin-thickness at the bovine tuberculin injection site. There was a significant difference in the number of reactors detected using the high and low potency tuberculins. In the SICTT, high and low potency tuberculin detected 40% more and 50% fewer reactors, respectively, than normal potency tuberculin. Furthermore, use of the low potency tuberculin in the SICTT failed to detect 20% of 35 animals with visible lesions, and in the SIT 11% of the visible lesion animals would have been classified as negative. Tuberculin potency is critical to the performance of both the SICTT and SIT. Tuberculin of different potencies will affect reactor disclosure rates, confounding between-year or between-country comparisons. Independent checks of tuberculin potency are an important aspect of quality control in national BTB control programmes.

Epidemiological studies of paracoccidioidomycosis have been based on surveys achieved with intradermal tests, and paracoccidioidin is the most common antigen used in most cases. The glycoprotein of 43-kDa (gp43) has been used in intradermal tests. It is the most antigenic component of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and it provides greater specificity to evaluate infection for this fungus. In this study, the prevalence of P. brasiliensis infection was estimated with intradermal tests involving gp43 for 695 people in rural Central-West Brazil. The infection rate was 45.8 % (95 % CI = 42.1–49.5), and the average age of those infected was 45.8 ± 18.2 years. The prevalence did not show gender-based differences but increased with age. The results demonstrate the importance of P. brasiliensis infection in rural settlements and the early exposure of children in the region to the fungus. Despite the high antigenicity and specificity of gp43, its usage must be standardized, so that epidemiological surveys will be comparable and more accurately reflect P. brasiliensis infection in endemic areas.

The ability to use ciclosporin (Atopica®: Novartis Animal Health, Greensboro, NC, USA) prior to intradermal testing (IDT) would help avoid exacerbation of clinical disease that can be associated with drug withdrawal. This study evaluated the effects of 30 days of administration of ciclosporin at a dose of 5 mg/kg once daily on IDT reactivity (immediate phase reactions) in a group of dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) with initial positive IDT reactions. 16 dogs diagnosed with AD were included in the study. Eight dogs (group A) were treated with ciclosporin orally at 5 mg/kg once daily for 30 days. Eight dogs (group P) were treated with a placebo orally once daily for 30 days. IDT was performed at day 0 and day 30 on all dogs enrolled using a standardized panel of 45 aqueous allergens (Greer Laboratories, Lenoir, NC, USA) appropriate to our geographical region. IDT reactivity was assessed by both subjective and objective methods at 15 min post-intradermal injection. Serum for allergen-specific immunoglobulin (IgE) serology was obtained at day 0 and day 30. The study was designed as a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Data were analysed using a split-plot analysis of variance with the grouping factor of treatment and the repeat factor of time (SAS System for Windows). At week 4, ciclosporin did not have a statistically significant effect on IDT reactivity or serology results. It therefore appears that, no withdrawal is recommended to evaluate immediate phase reactions. Resume L’utilisation de ciclosporine (Atopica®: Novartis Animal Health, Greensboro, NC, USA) avant la realisation de tests intradermiques (IDT) pourrait aider aeviter l’exacerbation des signes cliniques associes a l’arret therapeutique. Cette etude a mesure les effets de 30 jours d’administration de ciclosporine a la dose de 5 mg/kg une fois par jour sur la reactivite des IDT (reactions immediates) dans un groupe de chiens atteints de dermatite atopique (AD) ayant des reactions initiales positives aux IDT. Seize chiens atopiques ont ete inclus dans l’etude. Huit chiens (groupe A) ont ete traites avec de la ciclosporine orale a la dose de 5 mg/kg par jour pendant 30 jours. Huit chiens (groupe P) ont recu un placebo oral une fois par jour pendant 30 jours. Les IDT ont ete realises au jour 0 et au jour 30 sur tous les chiens enroles avec une batterie standard de 45 allergenes aqueux (Greer Laboratories, Lenoir, NC, USA) appropries a notre region geographique. La reactivite de test a ete mesuree a la fois par des methodes subjectives et objectives, 15 minutes apres les injections intradermiques. Un dosage serique des immunoglobulines (IgE) specifiques d’allergenes a ete realisea J0 et J30. L’etude etait en double aveugle, controlee contre placebo et croisee. Les donnees ont ete traitees par l’analyse de variance des parcelles divisees avec le traitement comme facteur de groupement et la duree comme facteur repete (SAS System for Windows). A la quatrieme semaine, la ciclosporine n’avait pas d’effet statistique significatif sur la reactivite des IDT ou les resultats serologiques. Il apparait ainsi que de ne pas arreter la therapeutique est recommande pour evaluer les reactions immediates. Resumen La posibilidad de utilizar ciclosporina (Atopica®: Novartis Animal Health, Greensboro, NC, USA) previa a la prueba intradermica (IDT) puede ayudar a disminuir la exacerbacion de signos clinicos que pueden asociarse con la interrupcion del tratamiento. Este estudio evaluo los efectos en la prueba intradermica (fase de reaccion inmediata) de la administracion durante 30 dias de ciclosporina a una dosis de 5 mg/kg una vez al dia, en un grupo de perros con dermatitis atopica (AD) con reacciones iniciales intradermicas positivas. Dieciseis perros diagnosticados con AD se incluyeron en el estudio. Ocho perros (grupo A) fueron tratados con ciclosporina oral a 5 mg/kg durante 30 dias. Ocho perros (grupo P) fueron tratados con placebo oralmente una vez al dia durante 30 dias. La prueba intradermica se desarrollo en el dia 0 y a los 30 dias en todos los perros del estudio utilizando un panel estandar de 45 alergenos en solucion acuosa (Laboratorios Creer< lenoir, NC, USA) apropiada para nuestra region geografica. La prueba intradermica fue valorada mediante metodos subjetivos y objetivos a los 15 minutos tras la inyeccion intradermica. Se obtuvo suero para la la deteccion de IgE especificas de alergeno en los dias 0 y 30. Los datos se analizaron utilizaron un analisis de varianza de areas divididas con el factor de agrupamiento de tratamiento y el factor repeticion del tiempo (sistema SAS para Windows). En la cuarta semana, la ciclosporina no tuvo un efecto estadisticamente significativo en la reactividad de la prueba intradermica o en los resultados serologicos. Asi pues no se recomienda la interrupcion del tratamiento para evaluar las reacciones de fase inmediata alergicas. Zusammenfassung Die Moglichkeit Ciclosporin (Atopica®: Novartis Animal Health, Greensboro, NC, USA) vor dem Intradermaltest (IDT) zu verwenden, wurde dabei helfen, eine Verschlechterung der klinischen Krankheit, die mit dem Absetzen der Medikamente einhergehen kann, zu vermeiden. Diese Studie untersuchte die Auswirkungen einer 30 Tage lang dauernden einmal taglichen Verabreichung von Ciclosporin bei einer Dosis von 5mg/kg auf die Reaktivitat des IDT(„Immediate Phase” Reaktionen) in einer Gruppe von Hunden mit atopischer Dermatitis (AD) mit ursprunglich positiven IDT Reaktionen. Sechzehn Hunde, die mit AD diagnostiziert worden waren, wurden in die Studie aufgenommen. Acht Hunde (Gruppe A) wurden 30 Tage lang mit Ciclosporin bei einer einmal taglichen Dosis von 5mg/kg per os behandelt. Acht Hunde (Gruppe P) wurden 30 Tage lang mit einem Plazebo einmal taglich per os behandelt. Ein IDT wurde am Tag null und am Tag 30 bei allen Hunden der Studie mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Panels bestehend aus 45 wassrigen Allergenen (Greer Laboratories, Lenoir, NC, USA), die unserer geografischen Region entsprachen, durchgefuhrt. Die IDT Reaktivitat wurde 15 Minuten nach der intradermalen Injektion sowohl mit subjektiven als auch mit objektiven Methoden beurteilt. Serum fur Allergen-spezifische Immunglobulin (IgE) Serologie wurde am Tag null und 30 entnommen. Die Studie wurde als doppelblinde, Plazebo-kontrollierte, Cross-Over-Studie angelegt. Die Daten wurden mittels Split-Plot Design Varianzanalyse mit einem Gruppierungsfaktor Behandlung und einem Wiederholungsfaktor Zeit (SAS System for Windows) analysiert. In der Woche vier zeigte Ciclosporin keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die IDT Reaktivitat oder die Serologie Ergebnisse. Um „Immediate Phase” Reaktionen zu beurteilen, scheint daher ein Absetzen nicht notwendig zu sein.

Background: Metamizole is a pyrazolone derivative, and its most common reactions are IgE-mediated reaction and idiosyncratic reactions. Non-immediate reactions are poorly described and there are very few reports on non-immediate reactions to pyrazolones. Materials and methods: We evaluated 12 patients (nine men) who consulted for a non-immediate reaction after metamizol administration. We performed cutaneous tests (skin prick tests and immediate and delayed intradermal tests) and epicutaneous tests, and, if necessary, an oral challenge test. Results: All skin prick and intradermal tests, if necessary, were negative in immediate reading. Delayed intradermal tests were positive in six of 10 patients (60%) and epicutaneous tests were positive in four of 11 patients (36%). Three cases (25%), were diagnosed by a positive oral challenge test. Discussion: Delayed-reading intradermal tests and patch tests are useful tools in the diagnosis of nonimmediate reactions to pyrazolones and should be considered the first step when evaluating these type of reactions. Intradermal test appears to be more sensitive than patch test. The positivity of skin tests suggests an immunological reaction, probably mediated by T lymphocytes, but further studies are required.

Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in a total of 91 dogs by combining the compatible historical evidence and clinical signs with the presence of one or more positive intradermal test reactions well correlated with the exposure to the aeroallergens and the seasonality of the clinical signs. Compared to the general hospital population Yorkshire terriers, Chinese Shar-Peis and cocker spaniels showed a strong predilection. No such predilection was found regarding the sex of the animals. The age of the dogs at the onset of the clinical signs ranged from 2 months to 8 years (median: 2.5 years). Moderate to severe pruritus, noticed in all the 91 dogs, was either localized (29/91) or generalized (64/91) and non-seasonal (43/91), seasonal (19/91) or of unknown seasonality (29/91). The most common cutaneous lesions included erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypotrichosis and crusts; their body distribution was generalized (64%) or localized (36%) with the feet as the most common site of involvement. Five dogs that had unlesional skin were significantly younger and had been pruritic for a shorter period of time compared to the majority of our study population. Otitis externa (43/91) and bacterial pyoderma (30/91) were the most common conditions associated with atopic dermatitis, while the prevalence of Malassezia dermatitis was very low (2/91). Of the other allergic skin diseases flea allergic dermatitis was the most common (29/91) followed by food hypersensitivity (2 out of the 15 dogs tested). The majority of the dogs demonstrated multiple sensitivities to the 50 aeroallergens tested, while domestic mites (77/91), and particularly Dermatophagoides farinae (64/91), were the most commonly implicated. The total number of the positive intradermal test reactions was increasing parallel to the age of the dogs but it was negatively associated with the presence of skin lesions on the carpal and tarsal joints.

Background Topical ear medications, often containing a glucocorticoid, are used to treat the clinical signs of atopic otitis in dogs. Studies have looked at the inhibitory effect of topical glucocorticoids on intradermal testing (IDT), but only one previously published study evaluated the influence of an otic glucocorticoid on the results of IDT in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives To assess what influence the absorption of the diester glucocorticoid mometasone furoate (MF) had on intradermal test immediate reactions, to determine an appropriate withdrawal time prior to IDT. Methods Twenty atopic dogs were enrolled. On day 0, histamine, rabbit anticanine IgE antiserum and saline were injected intradermally. After 20 min, a global wheal score (GWS) was determined. The otic medication, MF, was applied once daily for 14 days. Intradermal injections were then repeated and, if the GWS was within 25% of pretreatment values, the study was completed for this dog. If the GWS had decreased by ≥25% from the baseline value, the otic medication was withdrawn, and the GWS was repeated every 7 days until its value was within 25% of the original GWS. Results Three of the 20 dogs completed the study on day 14, while 17 of 20 dogs ended it on day 21, 7 days after withdrawal of the drug, MF. Conclusions and clinical importance Results from this study show that a withdrawal period of ≤7 days is possible before performing IDT in atopic dogs with active otitis externa treated with ≤14 days of MF. Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Topische Medikamente zur Ohrbehandlung, die haufig Glukokortikoide beinhalten, werden verwendet, um die klinischen Symptome einer atopischen Otitis bei Hunden zu behandeln. Studien haben sich mit der inhibitorischen Wirkung von topischen Glukokortikoiden auf intradermales Testen (IDT) befasst, aber nur eine fruhere veroffentlichte Studie bezog sich auf den Einfluss von otisch angewandten Glukokortikoiden auf die Ergebnisse des IDT bei Hunden. Hypothese/Ziele Eine Beurteilung, welchen Einfluss die Absorption von Diester Glukokortikoid Mometason Furonat (MF) auf die Sofortreaktionen des Intradermatests hat, um eine angemessene Zeit fur das Absetzen vor einem IDT zu ermitteln. Methoden Zwanzig atopische Hunde wurden in die Studie aufgenommen. Am Tag 0 wurden Histamin, Kaninchen anti-canines IgE Antiserum und Kochsalzlosung intradermal injiziert. Nach 20 Minuten wurde ein globaler Quaddelwert (GWS) bestimmt. Der otisch angewandte Wirkstoff MF wurde 14 Tage lang einmal taglich verwendet. Die intradermalen Injektionen wurden dann wiederholt und, solange die GWS innerhalb von 25% der Werte vor der Behandlung lagen, wurde die Studie fur den jeweiligen Hund bis zum Ende durchgefuhrt. Wenn die GWS um ≥ 25% vom Ausgangswert abwich, wurde die Ohrbehandlung abgesetzt und die GWS wurde alle 7 Tage wiederholt, bis der Wert innerhalb der 25% des Ausgangswertes lag. Ergebnisse Drei der 20 Hunde beendeten die Studie am Tag 14, wahrend 17 der 20 Hunde diese am Tag 21, 7 Tag nach Absetzen des Wirkstoffs MF, beendeten. Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Bedeutung Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen, dass ein Absetzen von ≤ 7 Tagen vor Durchfuhrung eines IDT bei atopischen Hunden mit einer aktiven Otitis externa, die ≤ 14 Tage mit MF behandelt worden war, moglich ist. Resume Contexte Les traitements topiques auriculaires contenant un corticoide, sont utilises pour le traitement des symptomes cliniques d'otites atopiques chez le chien. Si des etudes portent sur les effets des corticoides topiques sur les intradermo-reactions (IDT), une seule deja publiee evalue l'influence des corticoides auriculaires sur les resultats d’IDT chez le chien. Hypotheses/Objectifs Determiner l'influence de l'absorption de MF (diester glucocorticoide, furoate de mometasone) sur les reactions immediates des tests intradermiques et determiner un temps de retrait approprie avant de realiser des IDT. Methodes Vingt chiens atopiques ont ete inclus. A jour 0, des injections intradermiques d'histamine, d'IgE de lapin anti chien et de solution saline ont ete realisees. Apres 20 min, un score global (GWS) a ete determine. Le traitement auriculaire, MF, a ete applique une fois par jour pendant 14 jours. Les injections intradermiques ont alors ete repetees et si le GWS etait de moins de 25% des valeurs de pretraitement, l’etude etait finalisee pour ce chien. Si le GWS etait diminue de ≥25% des valeurs de pretraitement, le topique auriculaire etait arrete et le GWS etait repete tous les 7 jours jusqu’a ce que sa valeur soit a moins de 25% du GWS initial. Resultats Trois des 20 chiens ont complete l’etude a jour 14 alors que 17 des 20 chiens l'ont fini a jour 21, 7 jours apres l'arret du traitement. Conclusions et importance clinique Les resultats de cette etude montrent que la periode d'arret ≤7 jours est possible avant de realiser des IDT chez des chiens atopiques traites pour une otite externe active depuis moins de 14 jours par MF. Resumen Introduccion los medicamentos oticos topicos, que a menudo contienen un glucocorticoide, son usados para tratar los signos clinicos de la otodermatitis atopica en perros. Estudios han mirado al efecto inhibitorio de los glucocorticoides topicos en las reacciones intradermicas (IDT), pero solo un estudio previo publicado evalua la influencia de un corticoide otico en los resultados de IDT en perros. Hipotesis/Objetivos evaluar la influencia de la absorcion del glucocorticoide diester mometasona furoato (MF) en las pruebas intradermicas de reaccion inmediata, para determinar el tiempo apropiado de interrupcion del tratamiento previo a la prueba intradermica Metodos se incluyeron en el estudio 20 perros atopicos. En el dia cero, se inyectaron por via intradermica histamina, antisuero frente a IgE canina creado en conejo, y suero salino. Tras 20 minutos, se determino el valor global de las ampollas. La medicacion otica, MF, se aplico una vez al dia durante 14 dias. Las inyecciones intradermicas se repitieron despues, y si la GWS estaba dentro de un 25% de los valores pretratamiento, el estudio se completo para ese perro. Si la GWS era menor o igual que un 25% de los valores basales, la medicacion otica fue interrumpida, y la GWS se repitio cada siete dias hasta que su valor estaba dentro del 25% del valor original de GWS. Resultados tres de los 20 perros completaron el estudio al dia 14, mientras 17 de los 20 perros terminaron al dia 21,7 dias tras la interrupcion del tratamiento, MF. Conclusiones e importancia clinica los resultados de este estudio muestran que un periodo de interrupcion ≤7 dias es posible antes de desarrollar una prueba intradermica en perros atopicos con otitis externa activa tratados durante ≤14 dias con MF.

Nineteen healthy beagles, eight healthy basset hounds and 17 basset hounds with Malassezia dermatitis were tested intradermally with two extracts of M pachydermatis. One healthy beagle and two affected basset hounds showed wheal and flare reactions 15 minutes after the injection. Delayed reactions, consisting of erythematous macules and plaques, were commonly observed 24 hours after the injection in both the healthy and affected basset hounds, but occurred infrequently in the beagles. At 24 hours the diameters of the lesions in the healthy and affected basset hounds were significantly (P

Background Malassezia pachydermatis is part of the normal flora of canine skin. Malassezia hypersensitivity is recognized as a trigger for clinical signs of atopic dermatitis (AD) in some dogs. Determinations of Malassezia hypersensitivity are often made with intradermal testing (IDT), which may have limited availability in a first-opinion veterinary practice. Hypothesis/objectives The purpose of this study was to compare immediate IDT reactivity to M. pachydermatis with results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed to detect anti-Malassezia IgE. Animals Eighty-four dogs with a clinical diagnosis of AD. Methods Multi-allergen IDT was performed on all dogs. Serum testing for allergen-specific IgE against a panel of common environmental allergens and M. pachydermatis was performed by ELISA using the FceRIα receptor fragment as a detection reagent, with results reported as adjusted optical density (OD). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyse the results of the two tests. Results The median adjusted OD of the anti-Malassezia IgE ELISA for dogs reactive and nonreactive to M. pachydermatis on IDT was 0.137 and 0.024, respectively. Analysis of the ROC curve suggested a cut-off point for the anti-Malassezia ELISA that yielded a sensitivity of 77.0% and a specificity of 89% relative to IDT results. Conclusions and clinical importance Substantial agreement was demonstrated between IDT reactivity and anti-Malassezia IgE as detected by the FceRIα receptor reagent. Although correlation with a clinical diagnosis of Malassezia dermatitis was not attempted in this study, the results indicate that the ELISA may be used to demonstrate the presence of immediate-type Malassezia hypersensitivity in dogs with AD.

Excretory-secretory antigen (ESA) and adult somatic antigen (ASA) were obtained from adult worms of Paragonimus mexicanus. These antigens were characterized, tested and compared for its use in serodiagnosis of human paragonimiasis. Excretory-secretory proteins with 30 and 32.5 kDa and adult somatic proteins with 30 and 35 kDa molecular weight reacted consistently with all positive control sera, these proteins were determined as specific for detection of antibodies against P. mexicanus in human sera using immunoblotting. Adult somatic antigens were also used to prepare an intradermal test. In an indigenous community, 100 children were administered the intradermal test, 23 reacted positive. Excretory-secretory antigen immunoblot carried out with blood samples of the children detected 11 sera positive, while immunoblot with ASA detected 14 sera positive. Results of ESA immunoblot showed good correlation (0.86) with ASA immunoblot results, but both immunoblots showed moderate correlation (0.50 and 0.58) to the intradermal test. Although both antigens, seemed to be adequate for its use in serodiagnosis, we recommend the use of ESA for serological diagnosis of paragonimiasis in Costa Rica, since cross-reactions with other parasitic infection, especially with other trematode infections, did not occur. Furthermore, intradermal tests should be used for monitoring population at risk, and ESA immunoblot to confirm active infections of P. mexicanus. El antígeno excretor-secretor (AEE) y el antígeno somático adulto (ASA) se obtuvieron de lombrices adultas de Paragonimus mexicanus. Estos antígenos se caracterizaron, probaron y compararon para su uso en el diagnóstico serológico de la paragonimiasis humana. Las proteínas ESA con 30-32,5 kDa y las proteínas ASA con 30-35 kDa de peso molecular reaccionaron de forma consistente con los sueros de control positivos, estas proteínas se determinaron como específicas para la detección de anticuerpos contra P. mexicanus en la inmunotransferencia. El ASA también se utilizó para preparar una prueba intradérmica. En una comunidad indígena, se administró la prueba intradérmica a 100 niños, 23 reaccionaron positivamente. La inmunotransferencia de AEE realizada con muestras de sangre de los niños detectó 11 sueros positivos, mientras que la inmunotransferencia con ASA detectó 14 sueros positivos. Los resultados de la inmunotransferencia de ESA mostraron una buena correlación (0,86) con los resultados de la inmunotransferencia de ASA, pero ambas inmunotransferencias mostraron una correlación moderada (0,50 y 0,58) con la prueba intradérmica. Aunque ambos antígenos, parecían ser adecuados para su uso en el diagnóstico serológico, se recomienda el uso del AEE para el diagnóstico serológico de la paragonimiasis en Costa Rica, ya que no se produjeron reacciones cruzadas con otras infecciones parasitarias, especialmente con otras infecciones por trematodos. Además, las pruebas intradérmicas deben utilizarse para el seguimiento de la población de riesgo, y el inmunoblot de AEE para confirmar las infecciones activas de P. mexicanus. Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria

A delayed, Tuberculin type response to intradermal (ID) test with benzathine penicillin is described in a 50 year old female. She did not develop any sign of drug reaction on receiving.intramuscular injection of that drug. None of the 65 patients who were studied in detail for the ID test response to various penicillins showed such a delayed response.

Based on observations in a 231-head cattle herd, the authors suggest that Fasciola hepatica infection may interfere with tuberculin skin test by producing false positive reactions. The authors suggest that this could be due to saprophytic mycobacteria carried by the parasite., The Bovine Practitioner, No. 29 (1995 September)

Objective—To compare a radioallergosorbent test and 2 ELISA with intradermal testing for the determination of environmental allergen hypersensitivity in horses with and without atopic diseases. Design—Prospective clinical study. Animals—10 horses with recurrent urticaria, 7 with atopic dermatitis, 16 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 22 without atopy. Procedure—History, physical examination, hemogram, serum biochemical analyses, bronchoalveolar lavage, and an intradermal test (used as the criterion standard) with a regional panel of 73 allergens were performed in all horses. Serum was analyzed by use of the 3 in vitro assays of allergen-specific IgE. Results—An ELISA based on the α chain of the highaffinity IgE receptor, the Fc∈ receptor immunoglobin ∈ chain (Fc∈RIα) for IgE, had the overall highest kappa statistic (0.238), positive predictive value (49%), and negative predictive value (78%). Overall agreement between the Fc∈RIα-based ELISA and the intradermal test was fair. The highest kappa statistic was obtained by the Fc∈RIα-based ELISA in horses with atopic dermatitis (0.330). Kappa statistics for the radioallergosorbent test and a polyclonal antibody-based ELISA agreed slightly with that of the intradermal test at best. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—None of the 3 serum allergy tests reliably detected allergen hypersensitivity, compared with the intradermal test. The Fc∈RIα-based ELISA performed significantly better overall than the other 2 tests. Low sensitivity of all 3 assays indicates the need for continued study to elucidate a more sensitive test for the determination of potentially pathogenic allergens in horses. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:1314–1322)

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against bovine lymphocyte cell surface antigens namely, MHC Class I, MHC class II (DP, DQ and DR), CD3, CD4, CD8, gamma delta TCR, WC1N1 and WC1N2, were tested for their reactivity on apparently normal buffalo mononuclear cells prepared from spleen, lymph nodes and peripheral blood. All the mAbs cross-reacted with the buffalo mononuclear cells. The mean (+/-SD) CD4:CD8 cell ratio in the peripheral blood of apparently normal buffaloes was 1.08+/-0.049 while in the spleen and lymph nodes it was 0.90+/-0.080 and 1.81+/-0.430, respectively. The lymphocyte subsets in the buffaloes positive for tuberculosis by the single intra dermal (SID) test was found to be altered; the CD4 cells were reduced while the CD8 and gamma delta cells were increased. The mean CD4:CD8 ratio in the SID positive buffaloes was 0.36+/-0.010.

The presence of house dust mites (HDMs) and storage mites (SMs) in the human environment has been established worldwide and both contribute to atopic disease consisting of atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis in some individuals. The Dermatophagoides, Acarus, Tyrophagus and Lepidoglyphus mite genera contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic disease. HDMs and SMs have also been implicated in atopic dermatitis in veterinary medicine. Extensive work has been done for canine mite induced allergic patients, but relatively little information is available for equine allergic patients. Intradermal testing is performed in veterinary patients to identify environmental antigens that cause disease with the intent of formulating allergen-specific immunotherapy. Equine HDM and SM intradermal test (IDT) threshold concentrations (TCs) for the Midwestern United States are unknown. The mite stable fauna for the Midwestern region of the United States has not been determined. The objectives of this study were to determine IDT TCs for HDM and SM species, to quantify mite-specific IgE concentrations in thirty-eight clinically normal horses over two seasons and to characterize the mite fauna of a stable in this region across three seasons. Subjective measurements of IDT reactions were used to determine the TCs for Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Acarus siro, Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Lepidoglyphus destructor. The reactions were scored using a scale of 0 to 4+. Allergen testing concentrations ranged from 1:320,000-1:20,000 w/v for HDMs and 1:160,000-1:5,000 w/v for SMs. Threshold concentrations were defined as the highest concentration of a mite allergen where =10% of horses had a positive subjective reaction (=2+) at 15 min. Analysis of equine serum-specific IgE was performed using a commercially available allergen-specific IgE ELISA test. Specialized mite traps and modified flotation methods were used to collect mites in spring, late summer and winter from nine locations on one farm. Selected locations for mite collection represented the three different stabling environments used, bedding types, feed materials or combinations thereof. A single-baited mite trap was placed at each of the locations for a four-day period (96 h), while 200 g of material was gathered from each site on the fourth day for flotation. An acarologist morphologically identified and quantified the species of HDMs and SMs collected. Subjectively determined TCs were: 1:80,000 w/v for Dermatophagoides farinae in both seasons, 1:80,000 w/v in spring and 1:160,000 w/v in late summer for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 1:40,000 w/v in spring and 1:20,000 w/v in late summer for Acarus siro, 1:20,000 w/v for Lepidoglyphus destructor in both seasons, and 1:20,000 w/v in spring and 1:10,000 w/v in late summer for Tyrophagus putrescentiae. In both seasons, at least one horse had a positive serum IgE result for each HDM or SM evaluated. Negative serum IgE concentrations for all mite species were present in 55% of horses in spring and 66% in…

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate concurrent positive reactions of related versus nonrelated allergens based on 1000 intradermal tests of dogs with atopic dermatitis. Procedure Pairs of closely related allergens (based on botanical relations and results of research in human allergic disease) and nonrelated allergens were evaluated. Significance of the difference between group means of log odds ratios was estimated using a Bootstrap percentile confidence interval. Results There was a significant difference in the mean log odds ratio between related and nonrelated allergen pairs. However, there was also a significant difference between most groups consisting of nonrelated allergen pairs. Conclusion These results provide conflicting evidence and emphasise the need for further studies. Numbers of concurrent reactions of related allergens indicate that immunotherapy should be formulated based on testing with single allergens to avoid exposure to allergens not involved in the dog's atopic disease.

Malassezia pachydermatis is part of the normal flora of canine skin. Malassezia hypersensitivity is recognized as a trigger for clinical signs of atopic dermatitis (AD) in some dogs. Determinations of Malassezia hypersensitivity are often made with intradermal testing (IDT), which may have limited availability in a first-opinion veterinary practice.The purpose of this study was to compare immediate IDT reactivity to M. pachydermatis with results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed to detect anti-Malassezia IgE.Eighty-four dogs with a clinical diagnosis of AD.Multi-allergen IDT was performed on all dogs. Serum testing for allergen-specific IgE against a panel of common environmental allergens and M. pachydermatis was performed by ELISA using the FcεRIα receptor fragment as a detection reagent, with results reported as adjusted optical density (OD). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyse the results of the two tests.The median adjusted OD of the anti-Malassezia IgE ELISA for dogs reactive and nonreactive to M. pachydermatis on IDT was 0.137 and 0.024, respectively. Analysis of the ROC curve suggested a cut-off point for the anti-Malassezia ELISA that yielded a sensitivity of 77.0% and a specificity of 89% relative to IDT results.Substantial agreement was demonstrated between IDT reactivity and anti-Malassezia IgE as detected by the FcεRIα receptor reagent. Although correlation with a clinical diagnosis of Malassezia dermatitis was not attempted in this study, the results indicate that the ELISA may be used to demonstrate the presence of immediate-type Malassezia hypersensitivity in dogs with AD.

Keywords: rifampicin; allergy; intracutaneous drug testing; cutaneous adverse drug reactions; positive intradermal test; negative patch test

A 5 year-old boy experienced anaphylaxis after eating a jelly product for diet supplement containing erythritol as a major component. Prick test with the jelly product was negative, but the second oral ingestion of the jelly product at home caused another allergic reaction. Prick test with erythritol was negative even at 300 mg/ml, which was almost the solubility limit. Intradermal test was marginally positive at 0.1 mg/ml, and clearly positive at 1 mg/ml or higher concentration. We found subtle dose-response reaction utilizing basophil activation test, examined with 24 hour incubation at the concentration of 40-4000 μg/ml. At the oral challenge test in the hospital, 3 g of erythritol induced remarkable coughing, urticaria, edema, wheezing and hypoxemia. Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol, with the molecular weight of 122.12, which is recently being widely used for diet supplements, beverages, or drug medicines due to its properties of calorie-free and good-tasting, with easy-to-use physical characteristics. We now have to recognize erythritol as a candidate for food allergen, and to be careful about negative result of prick test.