Immunization of Cats against Fel d 1 Results in Reduced Allergic Symptoms of Owners

• Main Authors: Franziska Thoms, Stefanie Haas, Aline Erhart, Claudia S. Nett, Silvia Rüfenacht, Nicole Graf, Arnis Strods, Gauravraj Patil, Thonur Leenadevi, Michael C. Fontaine, Lindsey A. Toon, Gary T. Jennings, Gabriela Senti, Thomas M. Kündig, Martin F. Bachmann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Viruses
• Subjects: cat allergy; vaccination; fel d 1; hypocat™; virus-like particle
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/3/288

An innovative approach was tested to treat cat allergy in humans by vaccinating cats with Fel-CuMV (HypoCat^TM), a vaccine against the major cat allergen Fel d 1 based on virus-like particles derived from cucumber mosaic virus (CuMV-VLPs). Upon vaccination, cats develop neutralizing antibodies against the allergen Fel d 1, which reduces the level of reactive allergen, thus lowering the symptoms or even preventing allergic reactions in humans. The combined methodological field study included ten cat-allergic participants who lived together with their cats (<i>n</i> = 13), that were immunized with Fel-CuMV. The aim was to determine methods for measuring a change in allergic symptoms. A home-based provocation test (petting time and organ specific symptom score (OSSS)) and a general weekly (or monthly) symptom score (G(W)SS) were used to assess changes in allergic symptoms. The petting time until a pre-defined level of allergic symptoms was reached increased already early after vaccination of the cats and was apparent over the course of the study. In addition, the OSSS after provocation and G(W)SS recorded a persistent reduction in symptoms over the study period and could serve for long-term assessment. Hence, the immunization of cats with HypoCat^TM (Fel-CuMV) may have a positive impact on the cat allergy of the owner, and changes could be assessed by the provocation test as well as G(W)SS.