Tarantula allergy to hair?

[Ratmosphere]

So I just got tested for allergies and found out I'm allergic to cat hair, rabbit hair, and dust and have no food allergies. So here's the question; what about tarantulas? Can you be allergic to them? The allergist could not come up with an answer so I figured I'd ask here. I'm not particularly talking about the venom but more of the hairs. No particular reason I'm asking, just curious.

 

[TownesVanZandt]

Urticating hairs are designed to cause us some level of displeasure, but some people are more sensitive to them than others. Not sure if that qualifies as an allergy, though...

 

[darkness975]

So I just got tested for allergies and found out I'm allergic to cat hair, rabbit hair, and dust and have no food allergies. So here's the question; what about tarantulas? Can you be allergic to them? The allergist could not come up with an answer so I figured I'd ask here. I'm not particularly talking about the venom but more of the hairs. No particular reason I'm asking, just curious.

They don't have hair. It is actually known as "Setae" which is hair-like in appearance but more along the lines of barbed bristles in reality.
I am not sure if there is any chemical structure within the Setae itself that would trigger an allergic reaction in the sense of what would happen when exposed to cat/dog dander.

 

[chanda]

So I just got tested for allergies and found out I'm allergic to cat hair, rabbit hair, and dust and have no food allergies. So here's the question; what about tarantulas? Can you be allergic to them? The allergist could not come up with an answer so I figured I'd ask here. I'm not particularly talking about the venom but more of the hairs. No particular reason I'm asking, just curious.

Tarantula hairs are such an uncommon (to the general population) substance that they would not be included in standard allergy test panels. You are almost certainly the only person to ever ask your allergist about tarantula hairs. Whether you are actually allergic to urticating hairs or not, they are specifically designed to be an irritant and will provoke itching, burning, and/or rashes in most people. Of course, some people do seem to be more sensitive to urticating hairs and will suffer from a more severe reaction than others which may indicate a true allergy above and beyond the normal irritation. Now, if you find yourself reacting to the hairs of OW tarantulas, that would almost certainly have to be an allergy - or a psychosomatic reaction.

 

[cold blood]

im allergic to pretty much all mammals....while they tell you its the hair, hair is really just the method for transport for the real issue, which is dander. Dander is essentially dry saliva (left from grooming).....so even if ts had actual hair, they wouldnt apply to the allergen.

Dog and cat hair is bad, but if you want a properly strong reaction, play with them....when they bite it scratches and that will raise up inflamed until washed off.

 

[Moakmeister]

Tarantula hair isn't actually hair, it's setae, which is made of chitin. As for allergies to the hair, the way it works is that every time you get haired, your reaction gets worse than the last.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Obviously they're setae guys... lord.

 

[viper69]

Obviously they're setae guys... lord.

HAHA

Is it obvious from your post you knew the difference? There are many owners that don't know the difference, even though they know quite a bit about Ts.

It's not obvious when someone writes "hair", and writes hair in the context of dogs and cats. When I read your post I actually thought you meant true hair, which surprised me.

 

[Ratmosphere]

My bad guys! I just always refer to it as hairs because normal everyday humans don't understand what "setae" are so I use that term.

 

[Deeser]

im allergic to pretty much all mammals....while they tell you its the hair, hair is really just the method for transport for the real issue, which is dander. Dander is essentially dry saliva (left from grooming).....so even if ts had actual hair, they wouldnt apply to the allergen.

Dog and cat hair is bad, but if you want a properly strong reaction, play with them....when they bite it scratches and that will raise up inflamed until washed off.

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and ask the question: what about the fluid the tarantula secretes for grooming purposes? I've never seen a T apply that liquid to their urticating setae, but can't help but wonder if some people may be sensitive to it if rubbed on their skin or in a broken wound.

That being said, I think it may be far fetched to liken the saliva of a theraphosid to a mammalian, but I've never compared the composition of the two so I wouldn't know. I would certainly be interested in knowing what that grooming fluid is comprised of though.

 

[c.h.esteban]

maybe interesting
Castro et al (1995) Occupational allergy caused by urticating hair of Brazilian spider. Journal Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;951282-5.

"Conclusion
For the first time it was demonstrated that the urticating hair of Theraphosidae spiders is a potent allergen if it is inhaled or comes in contact with the skin. Our results suggest that besides the mechanical-irritating phenomenon, an IgE-mediated mechanism of hypersensitivity is also involved in the inflammatory process.
Although the allergic reaction to urticating hair may be of little significance for the general population, it is a subject of great importance to the researchers and personnel dealing with these spiders."

 

[Ellenantula]

Not sure if I'd call this an 'allergy' per se. (I have allergies to cats and dogs and parrot dust).
Urticating hairs (setae) are supposed to cause a reaction -- like poison ivy or oak -- i.e. most people are sensitive since Ts evolved setae as a defense mechanism.

That said....

I've never been haired by a T, but I have accidentally picked up a few doing maintenance.
I am in the adhesive tape camp --- I use strong tape to remove possible hairs before I wash my hands and arms (to remove urticating hairs before I rub them in washing up).
If you're that worried: wear gloves.
I get very intense itching and reddened areas that can last up to a week. Nothing soothes the itch!
Repeated exposure tends to increase one's reaction to exposure.
Just never put your face near/inside enclosure -- and definitely don't breathe in. You don't want urticating hairs in your lungs or eyes.

Use tape to gently remove any possible hairs... then wash up. You should be fine!

 

[Grace Cannell]

I too have allergies to animal hair/fur, hay fever and asthma just to make life that little bit more difficult; regarding T setae, it is designed to give you a horrid reaction. I don't think my allergies have made any difference when I have been haired by my Ts, although everyone reacts differently to things, I don't think a pet hair allergy would make too much difference. Personally, I am very careful with covering my mouth and nose when I have to bother my Ts because my asthma is unpredictable.

 

[EulersK]

True allergies are caused by some kind of substance triggering an exaggerated reaction by your immune system. Normally, histamines are produced by the body to create increased blood flow to the affected area. This helps the immune system do it's job. However, when a person has an allergy, histamine is produced in excessive amounts and leads to painful (and possibly deadly) swelling. This is what happens when the throat closes due to an allergy to peanuts or shellfish.

Why does this matter? Because unlike cat hair, shellfish, peanuts, or pollen, setae has specifically evolved to cause lasting irritation. They're literally microscopic strands of barbed chitin. So yes, histamines will be produced when you come into contact with setae. But not necessarily any more than if you were to get pricked by a cactus.

In short, I'd be very surprised if a true allergy exists with setae. An allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance, but when that substance has the sole purpose of irritating... the definition of allergy becomes moot. We are all affected by setae, although I admit to varying degrees.

 

[cold blood]

I am very careful with covering my mouth and nose when I have to bother my Ts because my asthma is unpredictable

I also have asthma...never gave this a thought...I will now.

True allergies are caused by some kind of substance triggering an exaggerated reaction by your immune system. Normally, histamines are produced by the body to create increased blood flow to the affected area. This helps the immune system do it's job. However, when a person has an allergy, histamine is produced in excessive amounts and leads to painful (and possibly deadly) swelling. This is what happens when the throat closes due to an allergy to peanuts or shellfish.

Why does this matter? Because unlike cat hair, shellfish, peanuts, or pollen, setae has specifically evolved to cause lasting irritation. They're literally microscopic strands of barbed chitin. So yes, histamines will be produced when you come into contact with setae. But not necessarily any more than if you were to get pricked by a cactus.

In short, I'd be very surprised if a true allergy exists with setae. An allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance, but when that substance has the sole purpose of irritating... the definition of allergy becomes moot. We are all affected by setae, although I admit to varying degrees.

I would almost expect, especially for an asthmatic, that inhaling those setae could cause a bad and prolonged reaction from the lungs.

 

[Grace Cannell]

I also have asthma...never gave this a thought...I will now.



I would almost expect, especially for an asthmatic, that inhaling those setae could cause a bad and prolonged reaction from the lungs.

It makes sense doesn't it. I discussed it with my asthma specialist at my last check up when she asked if I kept animals. She had some knowledge about inverts and said that considering asthmatic lungs get easily inflamed, inhaled T setae could potentially be problematic. I only have to be around a lit cigarette and I have problems so I am not taking any chances with my T's. I have a face mask to cover my nose and mouth. It may appear ott but asthma attacks are too unpleasant to risk.

 

[Vanessa]

I have an allergy to bee and wasp stings. I also have a heightened sensitivity to skin irritations. I have no allergies to mammals - I am fine with all cats, dogs, rats, etc., and I have no food or medication allergies.
I am very sensitive to Brachypelma setae and use gloves almost all the time that I feed and do maintenance in their enclosure - especially with the B.boehmei female and B.hamorii males because they kick the most. If I am exposed, I will take an allergy medication for a few days and it seems to do the trick. The itching is most intense at night, so I will usually only take the medication going to bed. It doesn't seem to be that horrible during the day. The irritation can last for a couple of weeks, though. I don't seem to have much of a reaction to my Lasiodora difficilis and I don't usually use gloves while feeding and doing maintenance in her enclosure.
There is one interesting thing that I have noticed. Since getting my Acanthoscurria geniculata juvenile, I have noticed something unusual about my reaction to her setae. They don't itch as much as cause pain. I notice a very different reaction to them compared to the Brachypelma setae. I can tell immediately if they have touched my skin because it is an instant mild pain. I don't experience the same level of itch, though... just pain. And it doesn't seem to last long, either.
I found that interesting.

 

[Grace Cannell]

That is interesting, perhaps it has setae that has a slightly different morphology, meaning it hurts you more than itches. Pain is just as good a deterrent as itching so again it makes sense. Itching is always worse at night because we have fewer distractions and also our body temperature rises to keep us warming during inactivity, I don't even have to be around my T's for that, if it isn't T setae, its my eczema making itself known.