Veterinarians

Abstract

Veterinary medicine involves a wide range of skin hazards from zoonotic infections to allergens and irritants such as animal proteins, medications, disinfectants, rubber, insecticides, frequent hand washing, and dirt. Animal-related skin symptoms have been reported by over half of veterinarians with skin symptoms. Main causes of contact allergy are animal proteins, antibiotics and other medications, rubber chemicals and latex and disinfectants and biocides. Atopy is a risk factor for animal-related skin symptoms, respiratory symptoms can precede skin symptoms by many years. Dermatophytoses and mite-infestations are most common of the numerous zoonotic infections reported in veterinarians. Individually tailored skin tests for both immediate and delayed allergy are needed in diagnosing animal protein allergy.