Longitudinal Analysis of Seasonal Variations in Intradermal Test Reactivity and Serum Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Dogs With Atopic Dermatitis.

Schedule allergen testing in autumn to maximize positive IDT results in seasonally-affected dogs.

This prospective longitudinal study examined 26 client-owned dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) to evaluate seasonal effects on allergen testing results. Dogs underwent intradermal testing (IDT) and serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (SAT) testing across all four seasons using commercial assays. Results demonstrated modest but significant seasonal variation in IDT overall positivity (p=0.004) and pollen-specific reactions (p=0.005), with autumn showing the highest positivity rates. This pattern was statistically significant only in dogs with seasonal AD components. Grass and weed allergens demonstrated higher odds of positive results in autumn (OR=2.696 and OR=2.026, respectively), while other allergens lacked consistent seasonal patterns. Notably, SAT showed no significant seasonal differences, though the authors acknowledge that subtle effects may have been missed due to sample size limitations and conservative statistical adjustments. Disease duration did not influence seasonal testing patterns. These findings suggest that allergen testing, particularly in seasonally-affected dogs, may yield more reliable positive results when performed in autumn months.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.