title: Cat, dog and house dust mite allergen levels on children's soft toys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children's soft toys are known to harbour house dust mite (HDM) allergens, but little is known whether they harbour cat or dog allergens. The objective of the study was to measure cat (Fel d 1), dog (Can f 1) and HDM allergens on children's soft toys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dust was collected from 40 children's soft toys and their mattresses. Data were collected on pet ownership. Dust samples were analysed for Fel d 1, Can f 1, Der p 1 and Der f 1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and results are expressed as median levels with inter-quartile ranges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five (87.5%) soft toys had detectable Fel d 1 levels (median: 0.73 µg/g; inter-quartile range: 0.26-2.56 µg/g) while 34 (85%) had detectable Can f 1 levels (1.20 µg/g; 0.53-2.68). Correspondingly, 32 (80%) mattresses had detectable Fel d 1 levels (0.18 µg/g, 0.07-1.01) while 34 (85%) had detectable Can f 1 levels (0.50 µg/g; 0.33-1.06). All mattresses and soft toys had detectable HDM allergen (Der p 1 + Der f 1) levels with soft toys containing about three times higher levels than mattresses. In homes with cats (n = 10) Fel d 1 levels were higher on soft toys than homes without cats (2.49 versus 0.48 µg/g; p = 0.0009). In homes with dogs (n = 25) Can f 1 levels were generally higher on soft toys (1.38 versus 0.63 µg/g; p = 0.10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown that soft toys can harbour cat and dog allergen as well as HDM allergens, some with very high levels. Cat and dog ownership resulted in higher Fel d 1 and Can f 1 levels on soft toys and mattresses. The levels of Fel d 1, Can f 1 and HDM allergens on soft toys could be of importance to sensitized asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: Show Chwan Memorial Hospital , Changhua City , Taiwan .
authors.forename: Francis Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mei-Wen
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ming-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siebers
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001513:Beds; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C091462:allergen Can f I; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus