title: Insect and arachnid hypersensitivity.
abstract: Insect hypersensitivity reactions can have a large number of clinical presentations. The majority of reactions are pruritic and involve the short- or sparsely haired areas of the body. Most are associated with eosinophilic infiltration into the skin, often in a perivascular pattern. The diagnosis may be based on compatible clinical signs and improvement with aggressive insect control and, in some cases, confirmation via provocative exposure. Intradermal, prick, or serum testing for allergen-specific IgE can be used to document the presence of reaginic antibodies against insect allergens. Treatments include avoidance, aggressive insect control, and symptomatic support; in some cases, immunotherapy may be useful in decreasing the severity of clinical reactions to insects.
authors.affiliation: Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Fort Collins, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bevier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001097:Arachnida; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000662:veterinary*; D007313:Insecta