title: Successful immunotherapy of canine flea allergy with injected Actinomycetales preparations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Can heat-killed, borate-buffered suspensions of Gordonia bronchialis, Rhodococcus coprophilus or Tsukamurella inchonensis be used to treat canine flea allergy?
  
  
  METHODS
  Organisms cultured on Sauton's medium into stationary phase were autoclaved in borate-buffered saline and stored at 10 mg wet weight/ml. Intradermal injections of 0.1 ml containing 1 mg of bacilli were administered on the first and 20th days of the study. G. bronchialis and R. coprophilus were most effective in a pilot study of a small number of dogs with flea allergy. A larger number of affected dogs were then randomized to receive placebo or either of the two selected reagents. The extent and severity of allergic signs and symptoms were scored and blood samples were collected just before the first injection and 28 days after the second.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both selected reagents reduced the extent and severity of lesions (p < 0.001) and reduced scratching. Eosinophil numbers were reduced (p < 0.0001) between the first and second assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injections of G. bronchialis or R. coprophilus effectively reduce the signs and symptoms of flea allergy in dogs.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Casilda, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marro
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirles
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiaffino
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bin
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: Oscar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Bottasso
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ripley
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stanford
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stanford
mesh_terms: D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D004285:Dogs; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007167:Immunotherapy; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000276:immunology; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations