Intradermal testing and immunodot may be useful in diagnosing dog allergy to meat

Background: Food allergy diagnosis in dogs usually runs through exclusion diets with provocation tests. Aims: To evaluate the diagnostic value of Intradermal Tests (IDT) and Immunodots in dogs with allergy to meat. Methods: From an allergy outpatient consultation 11 dogs suspected of food allergy were subjected to intradermal testing (IDT) for the most common dust and storage mites, grass pollens, beef, pork, lamb and chicken. Specific IgEs were commercially assessed for mites and pollens, and in immunodots to beef, pork, lamb and chicken. Results: Mean sIgE in ELISA -Absorbance -Units (EAU) was especially high to Dermatophagoides farinae (1665) Acarus siro (2063) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (1644). IDT revealed positivity mostly for D. farinae (5 patients), D. pteronyssinus (6), beef (10), chicken (6) and pork and lamb (5). Immunodots revealed positive in all patients to beef, pork and lamb, and in 8 to chicken. Positive correlation was found between IDT and immunodot to beef and chicken. Conclusions: Avoidance of beef, pork, lamb or chicken in IDT positive dogs revealed clinical improvement. sIgE -based tests revealed quick reasonably predictive diagnosis tools in meat allergy. Molecular studies will be needed to clarify possible cross -reactions and assessment of cell immunity to identify non -IgE -mediated food allergy