Veterinary Allergy Products and Services - Greer

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i. Retain the remaining 0.05 ml of control solution or flea extract in case the wheal is
unsatisfactory due to movement of the patient or poor injection technique.
j. The skin test should be completed as soon as possible to allow simultaneous comparison
of the flea antigen wheal against the controls.
3. Interpretation:
a. Immediate (IgE mediated) reactivity will cause a wheal within 15 minutes.
b. A wheal that is five (5) or more millimeters greater than the negative control denotes a
positive reaction. However, a strong positive is likely to be close to the histamine
injection in size, and will be a minimum of one (1) centimeter in diameter.
c. If patient is negative at 15 minutes reexamine after 24 hours to check for delayed
reactions.
d. See Overdose procedure if adverse reactions occur.
HYPOSENSITIZATION: DOSAGE AND ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION:
Discussion:
The optimum dosage and route of administration of flea antigen has not been clearly established
and currently many dosage schedules are in use.
Subcutaneous or intradermal injections have been administered with success, 6 7 but it has been
noted that if at least part of each injection is intradermal the response seems improved. 1
A suggested treatment schedule is offered below, however; in the final analysis the dosage and
length of treatment will depend upon the sensitivity and responsiveness of the patient.
Treatment:
The suggested hyposensitization dose is 0.1-0.5 ml of the Flea Antigen at a 1:100 w/v per 25 lbs.
of body weight. Treatments should be initiated with a 0.1 ml/25 lbs. dose and gradually
increased to a maintenance dose of 0.5 ml/25 lbs. The treatment should continue for a 6 to 24
week period.
The injection is administered intradermally at a number of sites with a 1.0 ml sterile
tuberculin syringe, using a 25 or 26 gauge needle 3/8 to ½ inch in length. Intradermal injections
should not exceed 0.2 ml per site or adverse reactions may occur.
SUGGESTED DOSAGE SCHEDULE
Week
Volume of 1:100 w/v Flea
Antigen
per 25 lbs. of Body Weight
1 0.1 ml
2 0.2 ml
3 0.3 ml
4 0.4 ml
5 0.5 ml
6 0.5 ml
Bi-weekly to 24 weeks if necessary
etc.
Boosters can be given if symptoms reoccur or as a prophylactic measure before flea
season. The booster dose should not exceed the last dose given.
HOW SUPPLIED: Flea antigen is supplied in sterile 10 ml vials at a concentration of 1:100
w/v (aqueous only).