Abstract
Serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test using high affinity IgE receptor (ALLERCEPT) and intradermal skin test (IDST) against Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) were compared in 143 dogs with pruritic behavior. When over 400 units were evaluated as high IgE level, the sensitivity to IDST was 95.8%. Although the specificity was 72.3%, it increased to 85.5% when dogs with possible false negative IDST were excluded. Then, ALLERCEPT against Df was evaluated in 50 dogs with classic canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) and 151 non-cAD dogs with pruritic behavior. The sensitivity was 98% and specificity was 80.8% on cAD with the same cut-off (400 units). Based on these results, it is suggested that ALLERCEPT against Df could be an alternative to IDST, and the assay could identify a characteristic of cAD, which is commonly associated with IgE.
