Efficacy of dry-cleaning in removing Fel d 1 allergen from wool fabric exposed to cats
Abstract
The main cat allergen (Fel d 1) is ubiquitous, having been found even in indoor environments and public places where a cat has never been kept. Clothes of cat owners constitute a carrier for the distribution of Fel d 1 allergen in these environments. Schools, for example, may be a site of indirect exposure to cat allergens. Our goal was to investigate the efficacy of commercial dry-cleaning in removing cat allergens from wool fabrics that had been exposed to cats to evaluate a possible preventive procedure. Twenty-six identical wool "squares" (80 x 100 cm) were put in cat baskets for 1 week. In our laboratory, the squares were cut in half (40 x 50 cm), and one half was subjected to high-volume sampling for 5 minutes in a cat-free room. The other half was subjected to commercial dry-cleaning and then the high-volume sampling. Five wool squares not exposed to cats served as controls. Dust was collected from the wool squares with a high-volume air sampler. Particulate material was harvested onto glass fiber filters (AP 20 Millipore, Milan, Italy) with 25-mm diameter and 2-microm pore size. Each dust sample was assayed by affinity-purified monoclonal antibody against purified Fel d 1. The results were expressed as micrograms per fi...Continue Reading
References
Increase in non-specific bronchial responsiveness after repeated inhalation of low doses of allergen
Influence of interaction of environmental risk factors and sensitization in young asthmatic children
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Allergy and asthma are inflammatory disorders that are triggered by the activation of an allergen-specific regulatory t cell. These t cells become activated when allergens are recognized by allergen-presenting cells. Here is the latest research on allergy and asthma.