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Health Story

 28 August 2008 12:42 BST

Hypoallergenic cats for sale

Monday, 25 Sep 2006 10:17
Fur-covered animals can trigger allergic reactions

Health In Focus 

Allergy sufferers can now own a cat that will not trigger their condition.

Allerca, an American pet company, has created the world's first naturally bred hypoallergenic kittens, which have gone on sale for $3,950 (£2,075). Despite the price there is already a waiting list for the kittens.

Animals covered in fur can make life miserable for those with allergies as proteins in their fur, saliva and hair roots can trigger responses such as watery eyes and sneezing.

According to the World Health Organisation, throughout Europe asthma and allergies have become increasingly prevalent over the last few decades, affecting more than ten per cent of children.

Scientists working for Allerca identified the minute specific variations in the feline D1 gene which are responsible for producing the protein that causes humans to react.

A number of cats which had been identified as having a genetic divergence in the code of the feline D1 gene were then selectively bred.

Dr Bernadine Cruz, spokesperson for Allerca, commented: "These cats have been naturally bred. Allerca found a naturally occurring divergence in the specific gene sequence and bred from there. Since it is natural, there are no long-term effects to worry about beyond natural evolution."

Dr Sheldon Spector, an allergist and clinical professor at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) who conducted an independent trial which tested the hypoallergenic nature of the kittens, said: "This observation exposure shows the Allerca cat has hypoallergenicity.

"I believe our design is very unique and a first of its kind since observing exposure to a hypoallergenic cat is so new to our field."End of story


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