The incidence of Japanese cedar pollinosis and sensitization to the pollen allergens among Japanese monkeys in a troop.

The natural occurrence of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica; CJ) pollinosis has been reported in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata), an appropriate animal model for developing antipollinosis therapies. However, there has been no study on the incidence of Japanese cedar pollinosis in monkeys. To evaluate the incidence of CJ pollinosis in Japanese monkeys, we investigated the presence of pollinosis symptoms among monkeys in a troop, and the response to CJ allergens in pollinosis monkeys. We examined the presence of pollinosis symptoms in 272 monkeys in a troop throughout the CJ pollination season (February to April). Of the 272 monkeys, 21 (7.7%) showed pollinosis symptoms during the CJ pollen season. Blood samples were taken from the 21 monkeys that showed pollinosis symptoms and were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody for CJ allergens. All 21 monkeys with CJ pollinosis had anti-CJ IgE. Of the 21 monkeys, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) could be taken from 12, all of which showed CJ allergen-specific PBMC proliferation. The incidence of CJ pollinosis in a troop was 7.7%. The monkeys with CJ pollinosis demonstrated specific IgE and PBMC proliferation for CJ allergens.