Occupational allergy to dog among police dog trainers

Abstract

This study was aimed to reveal the prevalence of dog allergy and other common allergy and allergic symptoms in police dog trainers. Fifty-six police dog trainers and 150 workers as control group were included in this study. Medical records of dog trainers including respiratory, skin, eye symptoms and physical examinations and skin prick test results are compared with the medical records of control group. Positive SPT to dog was present in 21.4% of dog trainers, whereas the frequency of sensitization to dog in the control group was 1.3% (p<0.001). Dog allergy development risk is found 20 times greater in dog trainers than control group. In multiple logistic regression analysis it was found that atopy was associated with dog allergy likelihood. Sensitization to dog allergens is an important occupational problem for dog trainers.