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The Chinchilla, a medium-sized, round-eared rodent, lives in the Andes of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, but is rare in the wild due to hunting and loss of habitat. It is bred in captivity for its extremely dense, bluish-gray fur, valued since the days of the Inca. For its size, the Chinchilla pelt is probably the most expensive in the world, though domestic pelts are not as costly as wild ones were. The animal is also kept as a pet. Chinchillas are raised on farms e.g. in South America and the United States

IgE mediated reactions
Chinchilla allergens may induce asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis in susceptible individuals (1,2).

 One study documents positive reactions, upon nasal provocation challenge tests, to Chinchilla hair extract in 4 of 6 Chinchilla-sensitised patients (1 child and 3 adults) suffering with perennial rhinitis and/or asthma (2).

No allergens from this animal have yet been characterised. Allergens will likely be found, as in the case of other rodents, as serum proteins, in urine, and epithelia.

Last reviewed- April 2022