Allerpet Study Summary

The Effect of Allerpet/C® Treatment on Fel d I Concentrations in Settled Dust, Cat Fur and Air
Controlling exposure to cat allergens is important, both in managing symptoms in allergic individuals and potentially in reducing the risk of sensitization.

Recent reports have shown that repeated washings of cats not only removes the allergen from the cat but also leads to progressive reductions in the quantity of allergens accumulating on the cat. Allerpet is a grooming emollient that cleanses the animal’s fur and skin of its dander, saliva and urine allergens and thereby reduces the volume of allergens contained on the animals.

In this study the effect of Allerpet/C treatment on Fel d1 concentrations in settled dust, fur and in air is investigated. The allergen load of a carpeted and furnished laboratory room in which cats were lodged, was determined before and after treatment of the cats with Allerpet/C. Not all allergen detection methods were applicable. Allerpet influences analytical methods with monoclonals such as RAST and ELISA. In RIA’s (with polyclonals) no influence caused by Allerpet was found.

Allerpet treatment caused a decrease in detectable Fel d 1 in settled dust of nearly 50% measured 2 weeks after treatment. Allerpet treatment diminished the Fel d1 concentration in the treatment towels. All treated cats showed a decrease of a minimum of 20% in removable Fel d1. By sampling air for 12 hours using an Anderson air sampler, no Fel d1 could be detected either before or after Allerpet/C treatment, probably since the new carpet was able to absorb most of the allergen.

In conclusion, Allerpet/C reduced concentrations in settled dust and cat fur after two weekly treatments. By reducing the allergen reservoirs in the indoor environment, Allerpet/C probably reduces health risks for cat-allergic cat owners. Future research should include a prolonged study on the allergen reduction and a more detailed investigation of the influence of Allerpet on detection methods.

Experiments

In this study, domestic cats living in a carpeted and sparsely furnished laboratory room are used to investigate the effect of Allerpet/C treatment on Fel d1 concentrations in settled dust and in air. Also the amount of cat allergen that can be removed from the cat’s fur with Allerpet/C is examined. The following questions are investigated:

Does Allerpet treatment decrease the level of removable Fel d1 on cat fur and skin?
Does Allerpet treatment decrease the concentrations of Fel d1 in air and in dust?
Is the cat’s fur negatively influenced (skin irritation/dehydration) by Allerpet treatment?
STUDY SPONSORED BY BAYER AG, LEVERKEUSEN, GERMANY