Humoral immune response to the insect allergen Chi t I in aquarists and fish‐food factory workers

Abstract

Our examination of 225 subjects who had been exposed to the insect allergen Chi t I involved the degree of allergen exposure, the exposure-associated symptoms, and their relationship to the presence of specific IgE and IgG antibodies as well as sensitization to ubiquitous allergens. It could be shown that specific IgE antibodies found in 34% of these subjects were closely associated with symptoms (P < 0.01), whereas no relationship between IgG antibodies and complaints could be observed. Conjunctivitis (63%) and rhinitis (62%) were predominant, followed by asthma (45%) and urticaria (37%). Antibody levels of patients suffering from asthma were highest. In addition, symptoms were associated with the degree of exposure. While nearly all IgE-sensitized subjects of the medium-, high-, and very high-exposure group were symptomatic, only 57% of the sensitized individuals of the low-exposure group reported complaints. Furthermore, specific IgE antibodies were most frequently present in the groups with medium (46%) and high (54.5%) exposure, whereas IgG antibodies predominated in individuals with very high exposure (69.1%). In the low-exposure group, most subjects (73.6%) had neither IgE nor IgG antibodies. In addition, within Chi t I sensitized subjects, sensitization to common allergens and elevated total IgE levels were more frequently present than within non-Chi t I sensitized individuals, indicating a predisposition to allergy.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Tropomyosin, a Major Allergen of Chironomus kiiensis , a Dominant Species of Nonbiting Midges in Korea

“…It has been reported that Cladotanytarsus lewisi occurred in enormous numbers in the Nile basins in Sudan and caused severe respiratory diseases in people living close to the Nile (10). Chironomid larvae were widely used as fish food in Germany and elicit occupational allergic diseases in a significant number of people who were exposed to these larvae (1,15).…”

Post-Hire Asthma Among Insect-Rearing Workers

“…A number of Diptera species have been reported to be allergenic, including fruit flies (Drosophilidae), screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), other blow flies (Caliphoridae), and midges (Chironomidae). 2,7,8,12,22 Spieksma et al 15 reported the presence of respiratory symptoms in one third of laboratory workers exposed to the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen). Baur and Liebers 2 reported increased risks of sensitization and of bronchial asthma in subjects exposed to midges.…”

Inhalationsallergien am Arbeitsplatz

“…Da die Larven als Trockenfutter in der Fischzucht in Deutschland häufig verwendet werden, sind Fischfutterfabrikarbeiter, Zoohändler und (Hobby-)Aquarianer ihnen gegenüber exponiert und kön-nen daher von Sensibilisierungen betroffen sein. Die Hämoglobine insbesondere der Art Chironomus thummi sind strukturell, immunologisch und klinisch sehr genau untersuchte potente Allergene [56,57]. Studien belegen, dass durchschnittlich 20% der exponierten Personen sensibilisiert sind [57].…”

“…Die Hämoglobine insbesondere der Art Chironomus thummi sind strukturell, immunologisch und klinisch sehr genau untersuchte potente Allergene [56,57]. Studien belegen, dass durchschnittlich 20% der exponierten Personen sensibilisiert sind [57].…”