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Case Report
 

Exotic Pets Are New Allergenic Sources: Allergy to Iguana
 

MM San Miguel-Moncín, 1 F Pineda,2 C Río ,2 R Alonso ,1 R. Tella, 1 A Cisteró-Bahima 1

1 Allergy Department, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
2 I + D, DIATER Laboratories, Madrid, Spain

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2006; Vol. 16(3): 212-213
 

 Abstract


Although furry animals are known sources of respiratory allergy, scaly animals are assumed not to be allergenic. Exotic animals such as iguanas are becoming increasingly common pets. Nevertheless, these animals are not suspected to be allergenic. We present the case of a 42-year-old woman suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma caused by a pet iguana. Clear IgE-sensitization and respiratory allergy to iguana scales is demonstrated, suggesting that scaly pets should be taken into account as possible allergenic sources.

Key words: Allergy. Aeroallergens. Asthma. Iguana. Lizard. Pets. Rhinitis