title: Dog characteristics and allergen levels in the home.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comprehensive analyses on the effect of household dogs on dog allergen levels in the home are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify environmental factors and dog-specific characteristics that influence the accumulation of Canis familiaris 1 (Can f 1) in homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dust samples were collected from the floor of infants' bedrooms at a Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy, & Asthma Longitudinal Study birth cohort study home visit and processed for Can f 1 using a standardized protocol. Dog characteristics were based on maternal report. Homes with 1 dog were included in detailed analyses, including characterization of the dog based on coat type, dander level, and shedding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Households with dogs had higher levels of dog allergen in the home than those without dogs; however, the number of dogs in the home was not related to dog allergen levels. Homes with exclusively outdoor dogs had significantly higher dog allergen levels than homes without any dogs but significantly lower levels of dog allergen than homes with indoor dogs. Homes where the dog was allowed in the infant's bedroom had significantly higher Can f 1 levels on the child's bedroom floor than homes where it was not. The homes of altered dogs had higher Can f 1 levels than did their unaltered counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs in the home corresponded to dog allergen in the home. Time the dog was indoors and whether it was allowed on the vacuumed surface mattered. No dog characteristic, other than altered status, was associated with allergen levels in the home.
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan 48202, 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: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zoratti
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ownby
authors.forename: Christine Cole
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002369:Castration; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D057805:Pets; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D004391:Dust; C091462:allergen Can f I
references.citation: J Urban Health. 2007 Nov;84(6):782-92
references.pmid: 17917814
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):111-7
references.pmid: 15241352
references.citation: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Nov;97(5):628-35
references.pmid: 17165271
references.citation: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Jul;101(1):47-50
references.pmid: 18681084
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Oct;118(4):851-7
references.pmid: 17030237
references.citation: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Nov;101(5):517-23
references.pmid: 19055206
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 May;119(5):1099-104
references.pmid: 17416408
references.citation: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Feb;102(2):125-30
references.pmid: 19230463
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 2008 Oct;38(10):1635-43
references.pmid: 18702654
references.citation: Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 1998 Feb;9(1):31-5
references.pmid: 9560840
references.citation: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001 Jun 1;218(11):1732-49
references.pmid: 11394820