By Ana Espino | Published on April 10, 2026 | 3 min read
Allergies to
domestic animals—particularly
cats, dogs, and horses—are a major cause of
allergic rhinitis and asthma, especially in children. Exposure to allergens is
frequent and widespread, even in the absence of direct contact with animals,
due to passive transfer mechanisms.
Diagnostic
strategies mainly rely on skin tests and
specific IgE measurements, but these
approaches have significant limitations. They cannot reliably distinguish
between
primary sensitization and cross-sensitization, increasing the risk of
diagnostic errors.
The main
challenge lies in the
frequent occurrence of polysensitization, driven by
homologous allergens such as
lipocalins and serum albumins, which are
responsible for numerous cross-reactions. This complexity makes it difficult to
identify the allergen truly responsible for symptoms.
The aim of this
study, recently published in The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics, is to
better characterize sensitization profiles and propose an innovative diagnostic
algorithm based on molecular allergology to improve clinical management.
True
sensitization or cross-reactivity: what do your tests really detect?
This study is
based on an
extensive literature review integrating epidemiological, clinical,
and molecular data on animal allergies. Analyses focused on
specific IgE
profiles, allergenic components, and mechanisms of cross-sensitization.
The results
show a high prevalence of sensitization, reaching approximately
26% for cats
and 27% for dogs in Europe, with a direct impact on asthma severity. High
levels of specific IgE—particularly against
Fel d 1—are associated with more
severe forms and increased bronchial hyperreactivity.
Molecular
analysis identifies key species-specific allergens:
Fel d 1 for cats, Can f 4
and Can f 5 for dogs, and Equ c 4 for horses, which are considered markers of
genuine sensitization.
The data
highlight the central role of lipocalins—highly conserved proteins responsible
for numerous cross-species sensitizations. This cross-reactivity explains why
up to 75% of patients exhibit multiple sensitizations, complicating clinical
interpretation.
Traditional
tests appear insufficient, as they cannot distinguish
co-sensitization from
true immunological cross-reactivity. The introduction of molecular diagnostic
techniques, particularly multiplex platforms, makes it possible to identify the
primary sensitizing allergen and refine the diagnosis.
The proposed
algorithm combines
conventional testing with
molecular analysis. It recommends
first identifying major allergens, then analyzing lipocalin and albumin
profiles to clarify secondary sensitizations.
Finally, the
findings highlight the value of
multiplex microarrays, which allow simultaneous
analysis of multiple allergens, despite sometimes lower analytical sensitivity
compared to singleplex tests.
Toward truly
precise diagnosis?
Animal
allergies are common conditions characterized by
immunological complexity due
to polysensitization.
The main
challenge is to accurately identify the primary sensitizing allergen—an
essential step for appropriate management.
The objective
of this study was to improve diagnostic strategies. The results confirm that
molecular diagnostics represent a major advance, enabling greater precision and
more relevant therapeutic guidance, particularly for allergen immunotherapy.
However, some
limitations remain, including the
lack of consensus on interpreting complex
sensitization profiles, technical limitations of multiplex assays, and
insufficient clinical validation of some proposed algorithms.
Future
perspectives include the development of standardized diagnostic protocols,
improvements in molecular tools, and integration of these approaches into
personalized medicine—optimizing patient stratification and therapeutic
decision-making.
Read next: Allergies: the molecular revolution is underway
About the author – Ana EspinoPhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.
