Immune responses in dogs with cutaneous adverse food reactions

Use of the Health Belief Model to identify factors associated with owner adherence to elimination diet trial recommendations in dogs

OBJECTIVE

To use the Health Belief Model to identify factors associated with owner adherence to elimination diet trial (EDT) recommendations by veterinarians for dogs with suspected cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFRs).

SAMPLE

192 owners of dogs prescribed an EDT between April 1, 2012, and April 1, 2017.

PROCEDURES

Owners of dogs prescribed an EDT to diagnose CAFRs were identified through review of medical records from a single veterinary dermatology specialty practice. Identified owners were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey that was developed on the basis of the Health Belief Model. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between potential predictor variables and 100% adherence to EDT recommendations.

RESULTS

665 owners were invited to participate, and 192 (28.9%) completed the survey. Of the 192 respondents, 77 (40.1%) reported 100% adherence to EDT recommendations, and 115 (59.9%) reported < 100% adherence. Results indicated that the odds of owners reporting 100% adherence to EDT recommendations were significantly decreased by owner perception of barriers (adjusted OR [OR_a] = 0.86) and were significantly increased by owner knowledge regarding diets and CAFRs in dogs (OR_a = 1.30) and by self-efficacy or confidence in performing an EDT as directed (ORa = 1.18).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Findings indicated that most prescribed EDTs were not followed strictly. Interventions to help owners reduce perceived barriers, increase self-efficacy, and improve related knowledge could improve adherence to EDT recommendations and, thereby, increase the diagnostic utility of EDTs.

Food-specific serum IgE and IgG reactivity in dogs with and without skin disease: lack of correlation between laboratories

BACKGROUND

Despite conflicting data on their utility and no reports on interlaboratory reproducibility, serum food-specific antibodies are commonly assayed in first-opinion canine practice.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

To determine both the variability of test results between two laboratories and the frequencies and magnitudes of food reactivity in dogs of different disease status.

ANIMALS

Sera were obtained from eight dogs with cutaneous adverse food reaction (Group A), 22 with nonfood-induced atopic dermatitis (Group B), 30 with an allergic/inflammatory phenotype (Group C), 12 with miscellaneous skin diseases (Group D) and nine healthy dogs (Group E).

METHODS

Paired sera were submitted to two laboratories (A and B) for assays of food-specific IgE and IgG antibodies.

RESULTS

Numbers of positive IgE and IgG tests determined by each laboratory in Groups A, B, D and E were comparable (Group C not included). Significant differences in the magnitude of IgE reactivity between groups for each allergen were seen only for lamb (Laboratory A, P = 0.003); lamb reactivity in Group D exceeded Group E (P = 0.004) but was comparable between all other groups. Agreement (kappa statistic) between the two laboratories' tests was 'moderate' for one antigen (potato IgE), 'fair' for four (corn IgE, rice IgE and IgG and soya bean IgG), 'slight' for eight (six IgE and two IgG) and 'less than chance' for the remaining six antigens (three IgE and three IgG).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

These laboratories' tests appear to have dubious predictive clinical utility because they neither correlate nor distinguish between dogs of different disease status.