No link seen between early exposure to cat allergens and asthma risk
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Indoor dog allergens may protect young children from developing asthma, according to a study presented at the annual congress of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 in Amsterdam.
Jacob McCoy, M.D., from the Hospital for Sick Children & Research Institute in Toronto, and colleagues examined the longitudinal relationship between indoor allergen exposure during infancy with subsequent asthma and spirometry and the potential effect modification by genetic factors. The analysis included 1,050 children (mean age, 3.94 months) with dust samples participating in the CHILD study.
The researchers found that 6.6 percent of participants developed asthma by age 5 years. Higher Can f1 (dog allergens) significantly decreased the risk for asthma (odds ratio, 0.52). Those exposed to high versus low Can f1 had significantly higher forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) z-scores (β, 0.23), regardless of asthma status. A significant gene–environment interaction was seen for Can f1 and polygenic scores on FEV1 (β, −0.14). No association was seen for cat allergens.
“Our findings highlight the potential protective role of dog allergens, but we need to do more research to understand the link between early-life exposure to dog allergens, lung function, and asthma during early childhood,” McCoy said in a statement.
Improving Indoor Environment May Aid Adult Asthma Outcomes 
Telehealth Genetic Services Increase Uptake of Counseling in Childhood Cancer Survivors 
Updated Pan-Tumor Guidelines Issued for Assessing Pathologic Response 
Disease Patterns Vary With Genetic Ancestry for Hispanic Patients With IBD 
Isolated Proctitis Not Tied to Higher Risk for Rectal Cancer .jpeg)
Risk for Colorectal Neoplasia Increased for Patients With IBD and Dysplasia 
Nine of 10 in IBD Community Support Predictive Testing, Prevention Strategies 
New Metabolites Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Identified 
