Contact Urticaria to Giraffe Hair

Abstract

Background: Immediate-type hypersensitivity to animal proteins is a common problem in people occupationally exposed to animals. Methods: A 19-year-old female working as a voluntary zookeeper in her off-time suffered from hives on her forearms following contact to the fur of a giraffe. For diagnostic evaluation, skin prick tests, assessment of specific serum IgE antibodies, and basophil activation tests were performed. Results: Skin prick tests with a standard series of common aeroallergens were positive for various pollens. Prick testing with native materials was positive for extracts of hair from two different giraffe subspecies in the patient, but not in control subjects. By CAP-FEIA, no specific serum IgE antibodies to dander of a large variety of animals were found in the patient. In the basophil activation test, expression of the activation marker CD63 was induced by extract of giraffe hair on the cells from the patient, but not on those from unaffected controls. Conclusions: This patient suffers from an ‘exotic’ immediate-type contact allergy to giraffe hair.

Immunological occupational contact urticaria and contact dermatitis from proteins: a review

“…Animal keepers can be affected in multiple contexts, though. Recently, a case of CU even to giraffe hair ( Giraffa camelopardis rothschild ) was reported in a young girl working as a zookeeper (55).…”

“…Animal keepers can be affected in multiple contexts, though. Recently, a case of CU even to giraffe hair (Giraffa camelopardis rothschild) was reported in a young girl working as a zookeeper (55). Case reports of laboratory workers suffering from skin and respiratory symptoms following contact with insects have also been published.…”

Animals

“…from various other mammalian species and birds has been reported to cause PCD or CU or other skin symptoms (Epstein 1948;Schneider et al 1960;Cockroft et al 1981;Göransson 1981;van Ketel and van Diggelen 1982;van der Mark 1983;Degreff et al 1984;Agrup and Sjöstedt 1985;Kalveram et al 1986;Camarasa 1986;Prahl and Roed-Petersen 1979;Hjorth and Roed-Petersen 1980;Hansen and Petersen 1989;Aoyama et al 1992;Susitaival et al 1995;Valsecchi et al 2003;Herzinger et al 2005;Buckle and Devos 2007;Swiderska-Kiełbik et al 2011;Renström et al 2011;Polovic et al 2013). Also, delayed allergy to animal proteins has been documented in several reports (Epstein 1948;Roth 1968;Malanin and Kalimo 1992;Susitaival et al 1995;Timmer and Coenraads 1996;Kanerva and Estlander 1997;Mahler et al 1998;Ljubojevic et al 2007).…”

Occupational protein contact dermatitis

“…Cases of occupational ICU induced by animals (fur, skin, biological fluids) have been described in veterinarians or animal care workers [28,44], particularly sensitisation to giraffe hair in a female zookeeper [45]. Prick tests were positive, serum IgE antibodies to giraffe hair were found and the basophil activation test revealed expression of CD63 in the 19-year-old female zookeeper but all tests were negative in controls.…”