Both human patients and domestic animals, such as dogs, cats and horses, suffer from allergic diseases. Often people and their animals share the same environment, respond to the same allergens and have similar clinical symptoms. Therefore, both human and veterinary allerologists (and their patients) could benefit from studying similarities and differences between allergies in humans and animals.
The Task force (TF) on “Allergens in veterinary medicine” started in 2013 with the aim to provide comprehensive overview of allergens implicated in allergic diseases in domestic animals. After a publication of a position paper on allergens in veterinary medicine in Allergy Journal, the task force decided to broaden its scope and produce a series of review/position papers comparing allergic diseases in humans and animals, covering pathogenesis, allergens involved, clinical presentation, diagnostic tools and treatment as a reference for both human and veterinary allergologists. So far, comparative position papers were published in Allergy on allergens, on allergen immunotherapy, on comparing food allergy, and on comparing insect hypersensitivities in people and animals. Currently, the TF is planning to work on a review/position paper on biologicals as treatment option in human and veterinary atopic skin diseases, and a review about comparing the microbiome development of pets and people and the impact on the development of allergic diseases.

Chair: Isabella Pali-Schöll
Secretary: Douglas DeBoer

Publications:

Pali-Schöll et al 2019
EAACI position paper: Comparing insect hypersensitivity induced by bite, sting, inhalation or ingestion in human beings and animals

Mueller et al 2018
Allergen immunotherapy in people, dogs, cats and horses – differences, similarities and research needs

Pali-Schöll et al 2017
Comparing immediate‐type food allergy in humans and companion animals—revealing unmet needs

Mueller et al 2015
Allergens in veterinary medicine

2017 Pali-Schöll et al.                

2018 Mueller et al.