Reactivity of dogs and cats to feeding fleas and to flea antigens injected intradermally

Slacek, B; Opdebeeck, J.P.

doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb07986.x

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…These observations are in accordance with those of Slacek and Opdebeeck (1993) and Lewis et al (1999), who reported that six and seven cats, respectively, with no signs of FAD also failed to react when exposed to live flea challenge. Similarly, Kunkle et al (2003) reported that six flea-naïve queens and 18 of their kittens when aged 9-12 weeks failed to react on live flea challenge.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…These observations support the recent documentation of delayed hypersensitivity responses at the site of fleabites and at the site of intradermal injections of flea allergens in cats (Lewis et al 1999). By contrast, Slacek and Opdebeeck (1993) reported immediate reactivity to flea challenge in five flea allergic cats, but none of these had delayed reactivity at 24 h. In the study of Lewis et al (1999) five out of seven flea allergic cats showed both immediate and delayed reactivity to live flea challenge, and one cat showed only delayed reactivity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Although Slacek and Opdebeeck 1993 proposed that it was feasible and inexpensive to maintain a limited flea colony under practice conditions, this method is not likely to be practical for most veterinary practitioners and veterinary dermatologists. The potential for C. felis to carry bacterial pathogens such as B. henselae, R. felis and haemoplasma species must also be considered (Shaw et al 2004) The results indicate that intradermal testing with commercial whole flea allergens is likely to frequently give false-negative results in cats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The response of skin after provocative exposure with live fleas (Slacek and Opdebeeck 1993;Stolper and Opdebeeck 1994) is arguably the best test for hypersensitivity to fleas, as it closely mimics the natural disease. To the authors' knowledge, the results of intradermal testing with a range of flea allergens and serological tests commercially available to veterinary practitioners have not been compared with the response to provocative exposure to feeding fleas in cats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serological, intradermal and live flea challenge tests in the assessment of hypersensitivity to flea antigens in cats (Felis domesticus)

2006

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The results of intradermal testing with three commercial flea antigens and a serological test for IgE antibodies to flea antigens were compared with live flea challenge in cats. Eight control cats with no prior flea exposure had negative serological test and flea challenge results. By contrast, 17 out of 27 cats with previous flea exposure showed immediate reactivity to flea challenge; reactivity at 6, 24 and 48 h after flea exposure was noted in 12, 16 and 21 cats, respectively. Seventeen of these cats had positive serological test results. Seven cats showed immediate intradermal test reactions to the ARTU allergen, six reacted to the Biophady allergen, and six reacted to the Greer allergen. Intradermal test reactivity was less frequent at the other time points. Using the results of the flea challenge as the 'gold standard' for the presence or absence of sensitisation to fleas, the sensitivity and specificity of the serological test was 0.88 and 0.77, respectively. Sensitivities of the intradermal tests at the four time points ranged from 0 to 0.33, whereas the specificities ranged from 0.78 to 1.0. Live flea challenge is better able to detect cats with hypersensitivity to fleas than either intradermal or serological testing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Serological, intradermal and live flea challenge tests in the assessment of hypersensitivity to flea antigens in cats (Felis domesticus)

2006

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“…In several studies, the IDT has been used to evaluate the specificity of other allergy tests for flea bite hypersensitivity in the cat (Bevier et al 1997;Foster and O'Dair 1993;Slacek and Opdebeeck 1993). Even so, in practice intradermal testing in the cat is often hard to interpret since cats appear to react with poorly defined wheals and little erythema (Kunkle 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of basophil sensitization to antigens of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis): a new tool for the diagnosis of feline flea bite hypersensitivity?

et al. 2008

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Suitability of blood basophils for in vitro diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity was studied in cats. A functional in vitro test (FIT) for sensitized type I allergic effector cells was used to evaluate the degree and kinetics of in vivo basophil sensitization against flea antigens in cats under long-term flea exposure. FIT results were compared with intradermal (IDT) and serological testing. Before, during, and after weekly repeated exposure to Ctenocephalides felis; 14 cats were repetitively FIT-assessed for general and flea-specific sensitization. In three cats, flea-specific sensitization was seen before and throughout flea exposure. Five cats, although generally sensitized, never developed a flea-specific sensitization. Six cats initially FIT-negative became sensitized for flea antigen during flea infestation. Induction, upregulation, and binding of C. felis-specific sensitizing antibodies to basophils during flea challenge may explain the developing sensitization in these cats. Strong discrepancies between the levels of flea-specific circulating IgE and basophil sensitization contrasted comparable results for basophil and mast cell sensitization using FIT and IDT, respectively. Hence, the FIT might provide an immunological supplement to the clinical diagnosis of FAD in cats by elucidating the state of basophil-sensitization to flea antigens. And it may be a comfortable alternative to IDT.

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Flea allergy dermatitis in dogs diagnosed by intradermal skin tests

Stolper¹,

Opdebeeck²

1994

Research in Veterinary Science

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Reactivity of dogs and cats to feeding fleas and to flea antigens injected intradermally

Cited by 11 publications

References 4 publications

Serological, intradermal and live flea challenge tests in the assessment of hypersensitivity to flea antigens in cats (Felis domesticus)

Serological, intradermal and live flea challenge tests in the assessment of hypersensitivity to flea antigens in cats (Felis domesticus)

Monitoring of basophil sensitization to antigens of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis): a new tool for the diagnosis of feline flea bite hypersensitivity?

Flea allergy dermatitis in dogs diagnosed by intradermal skin tests

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