allervet® Veterinary Information

allervet® – the answer to allergy

allervet® is a serological test for allergen specific IgE, designed for veterinary use.
allervet® is offered to you exclusively by NationWide Laboratories.

Allergy Diagnosis

In recent years veterinary surgeons have recognised an increase in the numbers of companion animals presented with allergic disease, it is estimated that currently between 10–15% of dogs suffer from atopy. Intra–dermal skin testing (IDST) has long been considered the "gold standard" technique for diagnosing atopy, and identifying the offending allergens. With the growth of serological testing, and refinements in methodology, allervet offers an easy, cost effective option when attempting to get to the root of suspected type 1 hypersensitivity disorders.

Technical information

Extensive research, combined with modern technology, has allowed allervet® to overcome the major drawbacks traditionally associated with serological testing. Trials have shown that the allervet® method demonstrates high sensitivity (82.9%) and specificity (81.3%) when compared to IDST for the diagnosis of canine atopy.

The allervet® detection system utilises species specific anti–Fc epsilon antibodies raised against IgE.

Recommended sample volumes:

• Canines/Felines – 3ml of serum.
• Equines – 5ml of serum.

Benefits of Serological Testing over Intra-Dermal Skin Testing

• A small volume of serum is all that is required.
• There is no need to sedate/clip the animal.
• The risks of adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock, are avoided.
• There may be no need to withdraw corticosteroid therapy *.
• The results are completely objective; subjective, specialist assessment is not required.
• The test is standardised, and reproducible.
• The presence of skin pathology will not preclude testing.

* For further information refer to the allervet® technical brochure.

Screening for Dogs and Cats

The allervet® package incorporates a useful screening test designed specifically for dogs and cats.

Flea, Malassezia and Staphylococcus are available as stand–alone tests.

Equine allergy testing

Equine hypersensitivity disorders may involve the skin or respiratory tract.

Allergic dermatoses are being recognised with increasing frequency in horses. Presenting signs include pruritus – often involving the mane, withers or tail, papular rash, hair loss, urticaria and facial/periorbital oedema. A diagnosis is often not possible based on the clinical presentation alone since different aetiological factors may be involved including atopy, insect bite hypersensitivity and adverse food reactions.

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)/Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease (COPD) is thought to be associated with production of allergen specific IgE to a range of inhaled allergens including grain mill dust, mites, pollens and moulds.

allervet® offers equine test panels which include the major allergens thought to be involved in these conditions.

Results

The concept of allervet® is to provide full support for veterinary surgeons in the quest to diagnose and treat allergic disease. Test results are attractively packaged and made available to both the veterinary surgeon and the owner.

Complementary client support literature is available to help explain the nature of allergic disease to pet owners and assist in the identification of certain environmental allergens.

When positive results are obtained for environmental allergens, information on allergen specific immunotherapy can be provided on request.

Allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT) can be produced for all of the allergens in the environmental panel, except flea, grain mill dust and hay dust. ASIT is customised and prepared using purified, standardised allergens identical to those used in the allervet diagnostic assay, ensuring complete compatibility.

Food testing

The pathogenesis of adverse food reactions (AFR) is poorly understood, the terminology encompasses dietary hypersensitivity and dietary intolerance, conditions which are indistinguishable based on clinical signs.

Elimination/provocation diets are considered the "gold standard" technique for identifying adverse food reactions and, ultimately, the offending foods; whilst serological testing should not be used to make a diagnosis of an AFR it can prove very helpful in the following ways:

• Increasing the index of suspicion of an AFR.
• Enabling the clinician to select appropriate ingredients for a food trial.
• Emphasising to the owner the importance of persisting with the recommended diet.

allervet® offers food testing for dogs, cats and horses.

Panels

Allergens included in the allervet® environmental panels have been selected on the basis of their geographical and antigenic significance in the UK.