title: Influence of cat characteristics on Fel d 1 levels in the home.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies investigating cat characteristics and cat allergen production focused on clinical experiments that quantified allergen from either the shaved skin or the fur of the animal; however, these studies did not address these experimental relationships in the home.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationships between cat characteristics and cat allergen isolated from household dust.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fel d 1 allergen levels in dust from homes participating in a population-based study of environmental effect on allergy development were analyzed using a standard monoclonal antibody-based assay. Cat characteristics were based on interviews conducted during home visits by study personnel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Households with any cats had higher geometric mean Fel d 1 levels than households without cats (32.88 vs 0.43; P < .01), and cat allergen levels increased with increasing numbers of cats in the home (P < .01). Length of cat hair, cat sex, reproductive status, and time spent indoors were analyzed; the only characteristic associated with higher levels of Fel d 1 was whether the cat had been neutered or spayed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having cats in the home is significantly associated with increased Fel d 1 levels, and having more cats in the home is correlated with more cat allergen. Cat reproductive characteristics may be associated with measurable differences in cat allergen levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA. cnichol4@hfhs.org
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Ganesa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wegienka
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Havstad
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ownby
authors.forename: Christine Cole
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006197:Hair / Q000276:immunology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D006023:Glycoproteins; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus