Diagnosis of inhalant allergy in a chimpanzee using "in vivo" and "in vitro" tests

A 25 year old, 70 kg female chimpanzee had a 12 year history of intermittent signs of upper respiratory tract allergic disease. In June 1987, she was given Terfenadinea, 60 mg b.i.d., with excellent resolution of symptoms. During her annual physical examination, while maintained under ketamine anesthesia, the chimp was skin tested intradermally for respiratory allergies prevalent in the Sacramento area, and blood was drawn for "in vitro" evaluation. Strong positive skin reactions were obtained against grass, weed and tree antigens mixes, with little reaction to mold and mite allergens. Pollen specific IgG4 levels, as measured by fluorescence allergosorbent test (FAST)b, were elevated, and these data are discussed. The serum IgE results corresponded closely with traditional intradermal skin tests, suggesting the application of the human test (FAST)b to the chimpanzee, and potentially other nonhuman primates. The specificity, convenience, absence of risk of serum testing make it an attractive alternative to intradermal skin tests in nonhuman primates.