A Clinical Study on Pet Hamster induced Bronchial Asthma

Cases of bronchial asthma induced by contact with hamster and other small rodents have recently been discussed not only as a problem of laboratory animal allergy (LAA) but also as that of household allergen for asthma, in view of increased frequency of keeping hamsters and small rodents in Japanese homes, keeping abreast with the recent pet boom. The present report concerns our studies on backgrounds of nine patients with asthma who had experiences of keeping Dzungarian Dwarf hamsters as household pets. As the result, the following features were recognized among patients with bronchial asthma induced by contact with hamsters: (1) early onset after a period of pet keeping as short as 14.7 months in average or within 12 months in 78% of cases; (2) ages ranging form the latter half of 30s to 40s with child(ren) of primary school age; (3) dwelling in apartment houses; (4) highly elevated serum IgE and ECP levels; (5) positive immediate and late type asthmatic responses to inhaled challenge testing and (6) quick remission following discontinuance of pet keeping.