title: Association between pet ownership and the sensitization to pet allergens in adults with various allergic diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As pet ownership increases, sensitization to animal allergens due to domestic exposure is a concern. Sensitization to animal allergens may occur from indirect exposure, as well as direct ownership of animals. However, there have been conflicting results regarding the association between pet ownership and sensitization to animal allergens in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 401 patients with various allergic diseases were enrolled in this study. We performed skin prick tests with 55 common inhalant and food allergens, including dog, cat, and rabbit allergens. A mean wheal diameter of 3 mm or greater was considered a positive reaction. The exposure modality to each animal allergen was investigated using a questionnaire and included present ownership, past ownership, occupational exposure, occasional exposure, contact with pet owner, and no contact. Present ownership, past ownership, occupational, and occasional exposure were regarded as direct exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitization rate for animal allergens was 20.4% for dog, 15.0% for cat, and 9.0% for rabbit. Direct exposure to dogs (72.0%) was significantly higher than that of other animals (18.4% for cats and 16.7% for rabbits), whereas 'no contact' with cats (78.3%) and rabbits (83.3%) was significantly higher than with dogs (26.8%; P<0.0001). Independent risk factors for sensitization to animal allergens were sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (OR=2.4, P=0.052), Dermatophagoides farinae (OR=5.1, P<0.001), cat (OR=4.4, P<0.0001), and direct exposure to dogs (OR=1.5, P=0.029) for dog, and sensitization to dog (OR=4.4, P<0.0001) and rabbit (OR=2.6, P=0.036) for cats. Finally, for rabbits, the independent risk factor was sensitization to Alternaria (OR=6.0, P<0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that direct exposure to dogs contributes to the sensitization to dog allergens in patients with allergic diseases, whereas indirect exposure to cats and rabbits may induce sensitization to each animal's allergen.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea. ; Lung Research Institute of Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joo-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cheol-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Gyu
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Jeong-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Cats; dogs; ownership; pets; rabbits; sensitization