Human hair: an unexpected source of cat allergen exposure.
BACKGROUND
Cat allergens are ubiquitous because the clothing of cat owners constitutes an important source of distribution of Fel d 1 in cat-free environments. Since Fel d 1 can adhere to a variety of surfaces, we sought to verify if human hair belonging to individuals with or without a cat at home might represent a reservoir and be a possible carrier of cat allergens.


METHODS
Seventy-three women (25 with a non-neutered male cat and 25 with a dog at home, and 23 controls without any direct contact with these animals) were recruited. The collection of material from hair was carried out using a modified version of a battery-powdered portable sampler. Particulate material was harvested onto glass fiber filters (25 mm in diameter, with a pore size of 2 microm; AP 20 Millipore, Milan Italy), extracted in phosphate buffer with BSA and then assayed for the evaluation of cat allergen using an ELISA based on anti-Fel d 1 monoclonal antibody.


RESULTS
Detectable levels of cat allergen were found in 2 controls, in 2 women with a dog at home and in 13 women with a cat at home, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In some women with a cat at home, hair constitutes a significant reservoir of Fel d 1. It is likely that these amounts of cat allergen might contribute to allergic sensitization when released in cat-free environments.
Liccardi
Gennaro
G
Department of Chest Diseases, Division of Pneumology and Allergology, 'A . Cardarelli' Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Barber
Domingo
D
Russo
Maria
M
D'Amato
Maria
M
D'Amato
Gennaro
G
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000485:Allergens; D006023:Glycoproteins; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus