title: Exotic pets are new allergenic sources: allergy to iguana.
abstract: Although furry animals are known sources of respiratory allergy, scaly animals are assumed not to be allergenic. Exotic animals such as iguanas are becoming increasingly common pets. Nevertheless, these animals are not suspected to be allergenic. We present the case of a 42-year-old woman suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma caused by a pet iguana. Clear IgE-sensitization and respiratory allergy to iguana scales is demonstrated, suggesting that scaly pets should be taken into account as possible allergenic sources.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. arxeus@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: San Miguel-Moncín
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Río
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cisteró-Bahima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007076:Iguanas / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E