Abstract

PURPOSE: To study associations between cat, dog and horse allergens in day care centres and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in serum, lung function (FEV₁) and dyspnoea in day care centre staff. Totally 62 subjects, all females, from five Swedish day care centres participated (participation rate 90%).

METHODS: Dust was collected by vacuum cleaning and Petri dish sampling and analysed for cat (Fel d 1), dog (Can f 1) and horse (Ecu cx) allergens by ELISA. Dyspnoea was measured on an analogue rating scale. FeNO, serum ECP and symptom ratings were log-transformed. Associations were analysed by linear mixed models, adjusting for personal and home environment factors.

RESULTS: Geometric mean (GM) value for allergens in vacuumed dust were 1199 ng/g for Fel d 1, 666 ng/g for Can f 1 and 478 U/g for Equ cx, respectively. GM value for allergens in Petri dish samples (ng/m² per day) was 29.8 for Fel d 1 and 9.1 for Can f 1, respectively. Cat allergen (Fel d 1) were positively associated with FeNO both in vacuumed dust (p=0.03) and in Petri dish samples (p=0.03). Dog allergen (Can f 1) in Petri dish samples was negatively associated with FeNO (p=0.02). Horse allergen (Equ cx) in vacuumed dust was negatively associated with FeNO (P=0.03).

CONCLUSION: Cat, dog and horse allergens were commonly found and cat allergen in day care centres can be a risk factor for lower airway inflammation, measured as FeNO, while dog and horse allergens were associated with lower FeNO.

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