title: A population-based study of animal component sensitization, asthma, and rhinitis in schoolchildren.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal sensitization is a major determinant of asthma in children. Component-resolved studies of unselected pediatric populations are lacking. The aim was to describe sensitization to animal components and the association with asthma and rhinitis in animal-sensitized schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 696 children (11-12 years) from a Swedish population-based cohort was tested for sensitization to cat, dog, and horse dander using ImmunoCAP. Sera from animal-sensitized children were further analyzed by microarray including three allergen components from cat, four from dog, and two from horse. The parents completed an expanded ISAAC questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 259 animal-sensitized children (≥0.1 kUA /l), 51% were sensitized to all three, 23% to two, and 25% to one species. Current asthma and asthma symptoms following contact with cats were associated with co-sensitization to Fel d 1 and Fel d 4. This association was seen already at moderate-level sensitization (1-15 ISU) to Fel d 4, at which level most children were sensitized to Fel d 1, as well. In dog-sensitized children, the majority was sensitized to more than one dog component, and co-sensitization to Can f 5 and Can f 1/f 2 conferred the greatest risk for asthma. Sensitization to the highly cross-reactive serum albumins was uncommon and not associated with asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among schoolchildren in northern Sweden, where mite allergy is uncommon, furry animals were the primary perennial sensitizers. Asthma was associated with higher levels of component sensitization, and sensitization to more than one component from the same animal conferred the greatest risk.
authors.affiliation: Krefting Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.|Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental, Medicine, the OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjerg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, the OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winberg
authors.affiliation: ThermoFisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berthold
authors.affiliation: ThermoFisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.affiliation: ThermoFisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden.|Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Borres
authors.affiliation: Krefting Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.|Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental, Medicine, the OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rönmark
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions; D063607:Dander / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D054834:Lipocalins; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets / Q000276:immunology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; C499337:Fel d 4 allergen, Felis domesticus; D006023:Glycoproteins; D054834:Lipocalins; C110827:allergen Can f 2; C091462:allergen Can f I; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus
keywords: allergen components; allergy; asthma; children; component-resolved diagnosis; furry animals; rhinitis