Feline allergic asthma and experimental models: The sky is the limit

摘要

In a review published in this issue of The Veterinary Journal, Dr. Carol Reinero gives an extensive overview of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of feline asthma (Reinero, 2011). As a leader in the field of respiratory immunology in feline medicine, Dr. Reinero summarises the evidence supporting the view that asthma is an allergic reaction in cats. The first part of the article indicates the potential value of feline asthma for respiratory research in humans. Indeed, there is evidence that allergic diseases in humans and pet animals occur concomitantly and similar environmental allergens seem to be implicated in both human and feline asthma (Schafer et al., 2008). Moreover, asthmatic cats share the most important features of human asthma, namely, recurrent and variable symptoms of chronic airway disease, including airflow restriction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation (Busse, 2007).