Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine
Most fungal species are commensals and non-pathogenic to plants, humans, or animals. However, several species of the <i>Alternaria</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Trichophyton</i>, and <i>Microsporum</i> genera are common causes of disease, even for immuno...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/11/1075 |
| _version_ | 1827639575645782016 |
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| author | Luís Miguel Lourenço Martins |
| author_facet | Luís Miguel Lourenço Martins |
| author_sort | Luís Miguel Lourenço Martins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most fungal species are commensals and non-pathogenic to plants, humans, or animals. However, several species of the <i>Alternaria</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Trichophyton</i>, and <i>Microsporum</i> genera are common causes of disease, even for immunocompetent individuals. Besides mucosal damage, fungi may contribute to a skin barrier impairment, favoring sensitization and allergy development. A total of 68 allergic dogs were selected from a veterinary dermatology and allergy outpatient consultation for conditions related to both <i>Malassezia</i> overgrowth and other fungal complications. The allergy diagnosis was made through anamnesis and current clinical criteria, with the involved allergenic species being identified by intradermal tests (IDTs) and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) determination in serum. <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i>, <i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, and <i>Malassezia pachydermatis</i> showed as the higher sensitization species from house dust mites, grass pollen, and fungi, respectively. Significant correlations at <i>p</i> < 0.05 were found between sensitization to <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> and <i>Phleum pratense</i> grass pollens, <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i> and <i>Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</i>, <i>Acarus siro</i>, <i>Tyrophagus putrescentiae</i>, and <i>Lepidoglyphus destructor</i> dust/storage mites, and between fungi like <i>Aspergillus</i> mix and <i>Penicillium</i> or <i>Alternaria alternata</i>. A significant correlation was also found between sensitization to the <i>Aspergillus</i> mix and <i>D. farinae</i>, <i>D. pteronyssinus</i>, or <i>A. siro</i>. Rather severe dermatitis was observed when a positive IDT to <i>Malassezia pachydermatis</i> was found, regardless of the detection of circulating sIgE, allowing us to consider the usefulness of both the IDT and the sIgE for a systematic diagnosis of allergy to fungi. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:42:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ad50e0dc0d54764b2e60bdca9c9a48f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:42:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ad50e0dc0d54764b2e60bdca9c9a48f2023-11-24T14:51:02ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-11-01911107510.3390/jof9111075Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary MedicineLuís Miguel Lourenço Martins0Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Science and Technology, MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, PortugalMost fungal species are commensals and non-pathogenic to plants, humans, or animals. However, several species of the <i>Alternaria</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Trichophyton</i>, and <i>Microsporum</i> genera are common causes of disease, even for immunocompetent individuals. Besides mucosal damage, fungi may contribute to a skin barrier impairment, favoring sensitization and allergy development. A total of 68 allergic dogs were selected from a veterinary dermatology and allergy outpatient consultation for conditions related to both <i>Malassezia</i> overgrowth and other fungal complications. The allergy diagnosis was made through anamnesis and current clinical criteria, with the involved allergenic species being identified by intradermal tests (IDTs) and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) determination in serum. <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i>, <i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, and <i>Malassezia pachydermatis</i> showed as the higher sensitization species from house dust mites, grass pollen, and fungi, respectively. Significant correlations at <i>p</i> < 0.05 were found between sensitization to <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> and <i>Phleum pratense</i> grass pollens, <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i> and <i>Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</i>, <i>Acarus siro</i>, <i>Tyrophagus putrescentiae</i>, and <i>Lepidoglyphus destructor</i> dust/storage mites, and between fungi like <i>Aspergillus</i> mix and <i>Penicillium</i> or <i>Alternaria alternata</i>. A significant correlation was also found between sensitization to the <i>Aspergillus</i> mix and <i>D. farinae</i>, <i>D. pteronyssinus</i>, or <i>A. siro</i>. Rather severe dermatitis was observed when a positive IDT to <i>Malassezia pachydermatis</i> was found, regardless of the detection of circulating sIgE, allowing us to consider the usefulness of both the IDT and the sIgE for a systematic diagnosis of allergy to fungi.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/11/1075dermatomycosisallergy<i>Alternaria</i><i>Aspergillus</i>dermatophytesfungal allergy |
| spellingShingle | Luís Miguel Lourenço Martins Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine Journal of Fungi dermatomycosis allergy <i>Alternaria</i> <i>Aspergillus</i> dermatophytes fungal allergy |
| title | Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine |
| title_full | Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine |
| title_fullStr | Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine |
| title_short | Survey of Sensitization to Common Fungi in an Allergic Dog Population: The Need for Further Focus on Sensitization and Allergy to Fungi in Veterinary Medicine |
| title_sort | survey of sensitization to common fungi in an allergic dog population the need for further focus on sensitization and allergy to fungi in veterinary medicine |
| topic | dermatomycosis allergy <i>Alternaria</i> <i>Aspergillus</i> dermatophytes fungal allergy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/11/1075 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luismiguellourencomartins surveyofsensitizationtocommonfungiinanallergicdogpopulationtheneedforfurtherfocusonsensitizationandallergytofungiinveterinarymedicine |