Effect of Hyposensitization with Irrelevant Antigens on Subsequent Allergy Test Results in Normal Dogs

Five normal greyhounds were evaluated for hypersensitivity to various grasses, weeds, trees and fungi with both an intradermal allergy test and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All dogs were hyposensitized for 6 months with the same mixture of 14 allergens, according to the treatment schedule recommended by the commercial laboratory that provided the ELISA allergy test. Following hyposensitization with irrelevant antigens at a concentration of 1 :200 w/v, dogs were reevaluated for hypersensitivity with the intradermal allergy test. No significant increase in intradermal reactions was found after 6 months of hyposensitization, and all dogs remained asymptomatic during the study period. Hyposensitization of normal greyhounds with irrelevant aqueous antigens, administered according to one treatment schedule recommended following ELISA allergy testing, did not appear to cause false positive reactions on subsequent intradermal allergy tests or to induce clinical hypersensitivity. Further studies are required to determine if hypersensitivity to irrelevant antigens is induced in atopic dogs following hyposensitization with nonaqueous extracts or higher concentrations of aqueous antigens.