Fel d 1 and Can f 1 in settled dust and airborne Fel d 1 in allergen avoidance day-care centres for atopic children in relation to number of pet-owners, ventilation and general cleaning

Background Special day-care centres fur atopic children have been established in Sweden. Objective To study concentrations of cat (Fel d 1) and dog (Can f 1) allergens in settled dust and airborne cat allergen in day-care centres in relation to pet ownership among children and staff, ventilation and general cleaning. Methods Twelve allergen avoidance day-care centres and 23 conventional day-care centres were included in the study. Settled dust was collected and analysed with ELISA. Airborne cat allergen levels were measured in eight allergen avoidance and seven conventional centres with a personal air sampler and analysed with an amplified ELISA. Air change rate per hour (ACH) was measured. A questionnaire which focused on keeping of cat and dog among staff and children and frequency of general cleaning was used. Results In the allergen avoidance day-care centres neither children nor staff reported ownership of cats or dogs, compared with 21/22 of the conventional centres in which children and staff kept furred animals. Fel d 1 and Can f 1 were found in settled dust in all day-care centres. In the allergen avoidance compared with the conventional centres the concentrations of Fel d 1 and Can f 1 were lower, Fel d 1: median 0.64 mu g/g vs 5.45 mu g/g and Can f 1: 0.39 mu g/g vs 2.51, both P < 0.001, and airborne Fel d I was also lower in the allergen avoidance centres compared with the control centres, 1.51 ng/m(3) vs 15.8 n,/m(3), P = 0.002. A correlation was found between airborne and settled Fel d I, r(s)=0.75, P<0.001. Furthermore, a correlation was found between increased ACH and decreased levels of Fel d 1 in the air in the day-care centres with no cat-owners, r(s) = - 0.86, P = 0.007, No relation was found between levels of cat or dog allergen and amount of general cleaning. Conclusion Not keeping pets seems to reduce children's exposure to pet-allergen in their working environment. Additionally, appropriate ventilation seems to reduce Fel d 1 in the air in day-care centres.