Look up hypoallergenic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Hypoallergenic is a term coined by advertisers (based on the Greek prefix hypo meaning "below normal" or "slightly") and first used in a cosmetics campaign in 1953.^[1] It is used to describe especially cosmetics and textiles that cause or are claimed to cause fewer allergic reactions. Hypoallergenic pets still produce allergens, but because of their coat type or absence of fur or absence of a gene that produces a certain protein, typically produce fewer allergens than others of the same species. People with severe allergies and asthma may still be affected by a hypoallergenic pet. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... Hypo- a prefix meaning below, low or insufficient. ... ‹ The template below (Taginfo) is being considered for deletion. ... An allergen is any substance (antigen), most often eaten or inhaled, that is recognized by the immune system and causes an allergic reaction. ...

Note that the term lacks a medical definition, but it is in common usage and found in most standard English dictionaries. In some countries, there are allergy interest groups that provide manufacturers with a certification procedure including tests that ensure a product is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, but such products are usually described and labeled using other but similar terms. So far, public authorities in no country provide an official certification that an item must undergo before being described as hypoallergenic The cosmetic industry has been trying for years to establish an industry standard for use of the term.^[2]

Hypoallergenic Pets

For allergy sufferers, a hypoallergenic pet might enable them to have a pet in their home, whereas most dogs, cats, rabbits, and other fur-bearing animals can make their lives miserable. The proteins that cause allergies are found not only in the animals' fur or hair but also in saliva, urine, mucous, and hair roots and in the dander sloughed from the animals' skin. ‹ The template below (Taginfo) is being considered for deletion. ... It has been suggested that Residential pets be merged into this article or section. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... Dander is material shed from the body of various animals, similar to dandruff. ...

Some dog breeds have been promoted as hypoallergenic, such as the Afghan Hound and the Yorkshire Terrier whose coat (hair) does not shed and is the same pH as human hair creating no dander, Bolognese, Maltese, Bichon Frisé, Shih Tzu, West Highland White Terrier, Poodle, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, and the Schnauzer, and Portuguese Water Dogs are sometimes good choices for those who have allergies, because some of these dogs do not shed their hair or shed very little. However, no canine is known to be completely nonallergenic. This Chihuahua mix and Great Dane show the wide range of dog breed sizes. ... The Afghan Hound is a very old sighthound dog breed. ... The Bolognese is a member of the Bichon family of dogs. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... West Highland White Terriers, commonly known as Westies, are a breed of dog known for their spirited personality and brilliant white coat. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is a breed of dog that originated in Ireland. ... A Schnauzer is a German type of dog. ... Portuguese Water Dogs are a dog breed bred by the Portuguese at least 500 years ago to help with fishing. ...

Cat breeds such as the Sphinx, Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, which lack some or all of the normal layers in cats' fur, are believed by mild allergy sufferers to be significantly less likely to provoke an allergic reaction than other breeds. Siberian cats are also believed by some to have such properties. See also Sphinx (disambiguation) See also Peterbald Sphynx The Sphynx (aka Canadian Hairless) is a rare breed of cat. ... The Devon Rex is a breed of cat that emerged in England during the 1960s. ... A Cornish Rex is a breed of domestic cat, with no hair except for down. ... The Siberian is a recognized breed of cat. ...

A company called Allerca recently claimed to be able to produce a so-called hypoallergenic cat using gene silencing, but it has now instead used traditional breeding methods, starting with cats that naturally lack the gene that produces the glycoprotein Fel d1 causing an allergic reaction in some people. However, no peer-reviewed studies have confirmed the company's claims and some scientists are skeptical of the company's assertions.^[3] Allerca is currently accepting orders for hypoallergenic kittens.^[4] Another company, Felix Pets, also claims to be developing a breed of hypoallergenic cat. Allerca is a San Diego-based biotechnology company which succesfully bred hypoallergenic cats through a selective breeding process. ... A hypoallergenic cat is a cat which has been bred not to provoke an allergic reaction in humans, enabling humans with cat allergy to own and handle it. ... Gene silencing is a general term describing epigenetic processes of gene regulation. ...

There is only one known hypoallergenic horse breed. The Bashkir Curly horse has a uniquely textured coat that lacks the protein (present in all other horse fur) believed to be the source of allergic reactions to equines. Many people with severe allergies to horses can handle Bashkir Curlies with no reaction. A Bashkir Curly is a breed of horse. ...

See also

• Hypoallergenic dog breeds
• Cat allergy
• Skinny pig

Hypoallergenic dog breeds, are those breeds that are considered the most suitable for those who suffer from allergies. ... Cat allergy in humans is an allergic reaction to cat glycoprotein Fel d 1 secreted by the cats sebaceous glands. ... Skinny Pigs are a hairless variety of guinea pigs or cavies which result from a mutation in the rhino gene. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/microscope/micro_2000/hypoallergenic.html
2. ^ Hypoallergenic: What's in a word?. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
3. ^ Felis Enigmaticus
4. ^ 'Hypoallergenic cats' go on sale

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Information regarding allergies to dogs
• Article about hypoallergenic cat
• Allerca site