Table of Contents

Whole Allergen

e206 Rabbit serum proteins

e206 Rabbit serum proteins Scientific Information

Type:

Whole Allergen

Display Name:

Rabbit serum proteins

Allergen code:

e206

Family:

Leporidae

Species:

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Route of Exposure:

Inhalation

Latin Name:

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Other Names:

Domestic rabbit, European rabbit, Rabbit (1)

Summary

Serum albumins of pets, including Oryctolagus cuniculus (rabbit), are inhalant allergens that cause respiratory symptoms in sensitized individuals. As rabbits are the third most common household pet in Europe and the US, rabbit allergens are an important cause of allergic respiratory disease.

Allergen

Nature

The dander and saliva of rabbits contain serum albumins that are involved in IgE-mediated cross reactions (2). Sensitization to serum albumins can occur by inhalation as well as ingestion, resulting in allergic respiratory symptoms (2) such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and, on rare occasions, anaphylaxis (3)

Taxonomy

*Taxonomic tree of Oryctolagus cuniculus* (1)**
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Metazoa
Phylum	Chordata
Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Lagomorpha
Family	Leporidae
Genus	Oryctolagus

Tissue

Dander and saliva (2).

Epidemiology

Worldwide distribution

In patients with pet allergies, serum albumins are recognized by the serum of 20–30% of patients (Diaz-Perales et al, 2013). In a group of patients sensitized to rabbit allergens, IgE prevalence to Ory c 3 was 77% (4).

Risk factors

Contact with rabbits in a professional setting, for example an animal testing laboratory, increases the risk of occupational sensitization. Risk factors for the development of laboratory animal allergies include atopy, familial history of allergic diseases, and environmental susceptibility (3).

As rabbits are popular pets, exposure to rabbit allergens occurs in the home through rabbit ownership or occasional contact (5). In addition to direct contact with rabbits, airborne particles from rabbit dander may settle then be re-dispersed into the air, causing allergic symptoms even when the animal is not present (2).

Environmental Characteristics

Worldwide distribution

In Europe and the US, 30–60% of all households have one or more pets; rabbits are the third most popular pet in Europe and the US after cats and dogs (4).

Route of Exposure

Main

Inhalation (2)

Secondary

Ingestion (2)

Clinical Relevance

Symptoms of sensitization to rabbit allergens include allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma and, on rare occasions, anaphylaxis (3).

Molecular Aspects

Allergenic molecules

Ory c 1, a 17-kDa glycoprotein found in saliva and fur, is a major rabbit allergen that can bind both IgE and IgG from serum of sensitized patients. In the same study, the authors suggest that rabbit serum albumin (Ory c 6) is a minor allergen (3). Ory c 1 and Ory c 4 (both lipocalins) are homologues with the cow allergen Bos d 5; additionally, Ory c 4 showed amino acid identity ranging between 24-63% homology with other domestic animal lipocalins (6).The table below, adapted from Allergome.org (7), highlights the rabbit serum, dander and saliva allergens.

Allergen	Type	Mass (kDa)
Ory c 1 [saliva, dander]	Lipocalin, Odorant binding protein	1.8
Ory c 3 [dander]	Lipophilin	22.5
Ory c 4 [saliva]	Lipocalin	19.7
Ory c 6 [serum]	Albumin	69
Ory c Phosvitin [dander, saliva]	Casein kinase	25

Cross-reactivity

Ory c 4 has a high sequence identity to Fel d 4 and Can f 6, which makes IgE-cross reactivity highly probable (4).

Compiled By

Author: RubyDuke Communications

Reviewer: Dr. Christian Fischer

Last reviewed:March 2022

References

CABI. Oryctolagus cuniculus (rabbits) 2021. Available from: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/72046.
Díaz-Perales A, González-de-Olano D, Pérez-Gordo M, Pastor-Vargas C. Allergy to uncommon pets: new allergies but the same allergens. Front Immunol. 2013;4:492-.
Choi JH, Kim HM, Park HS. Allergic asthma and rhinitis caused by household rabbit exposure: identification of serum-specific IgE and its allergens. J Korean Med Sci. 2007;22(5):820-4.
Curin M, Hilger C. Allergy to pets and new allergies to uncommon pets. Allergol Select. 2017;1(2):214-21.
Liccardi G, Piccolo A, Dente B, Salzillo A, Noschese P, Gilder JA, et al. Rabbit allergens: a significant risk for allergic sensitization in subjects without occupational exposure. Respir Med. 2007;101(2):333-9.
Matricardi PM, Kleine-Tebbe J, Hoffmann HJ, Valenta R, Hilger C, Hofmaier S, et al. EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2016;27 Suppl 23:1-250.
allergome.org. Rabbit 2021 [cited 2022 19.01.22]. Available from: http://www.allergome.org/script/search_step2.php.