Atopic symptoms among California veterinarians

Abstract

The prevalence of asthma and other atopic symptoms was high in the studied population. Most veterinarians with respiratory or skin symptoms reported the symptoms as being related to specific animal contact.

Allergy among veterinary medicine students in The Netherlands

“…The widespread symptoms of sneezing or runny nose (59.4%) among those with self-reported allergic symptoms to animals are in line with previously reported symptoms in Californian veterinarians (62%)7 and also similar to the figure reported for swine veterinarians (69%) 10. Symptoms of itchy and red skin attributed to animals were less likely to occur (2.3%) similarly as reported for Californian veterinarians (11%) 7.…”

“…Symptoms of itchy and red skin attributed to animals were less likely to occur (2.3%) similarly as reported for Californian veterinarians (11%) 7. The comparison should be interpreted with caution as we only included new-onset symptoms compared with the overall prevalence in the Californian study.…”

“…Exposure to animal-derived allergens are well known to induce immediate (IgE-mediated) sensitisation5 and development of respiratory, eye and skin symptoms, as well as allergic asthma 6–9. There are only a few published studies describing allergic symptoms among veterinary populations 6 7 9–14. These studies suggest that veterinary populations are at risk of developing allergic sensitisation, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and dermatitis, with prevalences ranging between 40% and 69% for respiratory symptoms7 10 15 and 11% and 46% for dermal symptoms 12–14…”

Management of work-related asthma

“…60 The most commonly reported animals causing work related symptoms are cats (58%). There are no reported studies of animal allergen AIT tested in occupational settings.…”

Animals

“…It seems, according to the California veterinary survey, that animal species have a different capacity to cause skin and respiratory symptoms. Rats, rabbits, cattle, and dogs more often cause skin symptoms than cats and horses (Table 2, Susitaival et al 2003).…”