Evaluation of the theoretical risk of cross-reactivity among recently identified food allergens for dogs

Abstract

Background: There is increasing evidence of cross-reactivity between allergens of close or distant species. The A-RISC (Allergens'–Relative Identity, Similarity and Cross-reactivity) index helps evaluate the risk of theoretical cross-reactivity between proteins of the same family among different species. Objectives: To report the A-RISC indices for several food allergens of dogs between multiple food sources. Materials and Methods: We selected several recently characterised food allergens for dogs from fish and chicken (ACTA1, ALDOA, CKM, ENO3, GAPDH, PKM and TPI1), fish (TPM1/2), beef/lamb (PGM1) and corn/potato (WAXY). When quality sequence data were available, A-RISC indices were calculated between multiple animal and plant species that can be used as food sources. For the TPM subunits, A-RISC indices also were calculated with the environmental allergens Bla g 4 and Der f 10, and the Toxocara canis nematode. Results: The A-RISC indices suggest a substantial theoretical risk of cross-reactivity between species for all allergens considered. For TPM, this risk also extends to the environmental and nematode allergens. Conclusions and clinical relevance: There is a high theoretical risk of cross-reactivity between allergens of different species used as food sources. The clinical relevance of these elevated A-RISC indices should be studied further.