Production of Allergen Extracts for Bivalve Allergy Diagnosis Using Skin PrickTest

Background: Whilst the consumption of bivalves is reasonably high in Malaysia, the frequency of allergy to this group of shellfish in the local population is largely unknown. The aim of this preliminary study was to produce bivalve allergen extracts and to investigate the frequency of bivalve sensitization among the local atopic population. Methods: Raw allergen extracts were prepared from 5 different species of bivalves. Their protein profiles were studied using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results: In SDS-PAGE, the bivalve extracts demonstrated 10 to 23 protein bands. The five protein profiles varied considerably but most visible protein bands lay within 25-100 kDa. At the same time, fifty patients with a history of atopy were skin prick tested (SPT) with these raw extracts of bivalves. Of the 50 subjects, 13 (26%) had a positive SPT to at least one of the 5 bivalve extracts tested, 8 (61%) reacted to one bivalve extract while only one (8%) reacted to all 5 bivalve extracts. The frequency of skin test reactivity to Malaysian cockle was the highest at 22%, followed by Carpet clam, 12% and 4% to the other 3 bivalve extracts; Tropical oyster, Asian clam and Asian green mussel. Conclusion: This study showed that of the five different bivalve species, cockle was found to have the highest frequency in skin test reactivity. It appears that an individual, who is sensitized to a mite, is also likely to be sensitized to bivalves.

[1]  P. Bryce,et al.  Pathophysiology of Food Allergy. , 2015, Pediatric clinics of North America.

[2]  S. Murad,et al.  Production of Allergen Extracts for Bivalve Allergy Diagnosis Using Skin PrickTest , 2015 .

[3]  S. Quirce,et al.  Shellfish Allergy: a Comprehensive Review , 2015, Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology.

[4]  A. Lopata,et al.  IgE Reactivity of Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Tropomyosin, Por p 1, and Other Allergens; Cross-Reactivity with Black Tiger Prawn and Effects of Heating , 2013, PloS one.

[5]  M. Krishnamoorthy,et al.  Seasonal changes in the biochemical composition of wedge clam, Donax scortum from the Padukere beach, Karnataka , 2013 .

[6]  S. Murad,et al.  Identification of the major allergens of Charybdis feriatus (red crab) and its cross-reactivity with Portunus pelagicus (blue crab). , 2012, Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology.

[7]  M. Shahnaz,et al.  Identification of tropomyosin and arginine kinase as major allergens of Portunus pelagicus (blue swimming crab). , 2012, Tropical biomedicine.

[8]  L. Shek,et al.  Shellfish allergy--an Asia-Pacific perspective. , 2012, Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology.

[9]  A. Lopata,et al.  Shellfish allergy diagnosis: gaps and needs , 2012 .

[10]  W. S. King,et al.  Diversity of Edible Mollusc (Gastropoda and Bivalvia) at Selected Divison of Sarawak, Malaysia , 2012 .

[11]  S. Murad,et al.  Identification of the major allergen of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (giant freshwater prawn). , 2012, Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine.

[12]  S. Murad,et al.  Identification of tropomyosin as major allergen of white squid (Loligo edulis) by two-dimensional immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. , 2012, The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health.

[13]  Eva Rönmark,et al.  Allergic rhinitis in northern vietnam: increased risk of urban living according to a large population survey , 2011, Clinical and translational allergy.

[14]  S. Bahna,et al.  Not all shellfish "allergy" is allergy! , 2011, Clinical and translational allergy.

[15]  G. Wennergren,et al.  Growing up on a farm leads to lifelong protection against allergic rhinitis , 2010, Allergy.

[16]  R. Ismail,et al.  Clinical features of allergic rhinitis and skin prick test analysis based on the ARIA classification: a preliminary study in Malaysia. , 2010, Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.

[17]  Duo Li,et al.  Seasonal variation in nutrient composition of Mytilus coruscus from China. , 2010, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[18]  J. J. Robinson,et al.  Characterization and de novo sequencing of snow crab tropomyosin enzymatic peptides by both electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization QqToF tandem mass spectrometry. , 2010, Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS.

[19]  S. Maleki,et al.  Effects of boiling on the IgE-binding properties of tropomyosin of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). , 2010, Journal of food science.

[20]  S. Ishizaki,et al.  Tropomyosins in gastropods and bivalves: Identification as major allergens and amino acid sequence features , 2009 .

[21]  P. Laxmilatha.  Proximate composition of the surf clam Mactra violacea (Gmelin 1791) , 2009 .

[22]  E. Rönmark,et al.  Occupational exposure to dust, gases and fumes, a family history of asthma and impaired respiratory health. , 2008, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[23]  Steve L. Taylor.  Molluscan shellfish allergy. , 2008, Advances in food and nutrition research.

[24]  M. Ebisawa,et al.  [Characteristics of shrimp allergy from childhood to adulthood in Japan]. , 2006, Arerugi = [Allergy].

[25]  H. Grandjean,et al.  Prevalence and main characteristics of schoolchildren diagnosed withfood allergies in France , 2005, Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

[26]  S. Lehrer,et al.  Fish and shellfish allergy , 2005, Current allergy and asthma reports.

[27]  I. Lauer,et al.  Recombinant tropomyosin from Penaeus aztecus (rPen a 1) for measurement of specific immunoglobulin E antibodies relevant in food allergy to crustaceans and other invertebrates. , 2004, Molecular nutrition & food research.

[28]  G. Williams,et al.  Clinical characteristics and pattern of skin test reactivities in shellfish allergy patients in Hong Kong. , 2004, Allergy and asthma proceedings.

[29]  T. Zuberbier,et al.  Prevalence of adverse reactions to food in Germany – a population study , 2004, Allergy.

[30]  U. Bengtsson,et al.  Self-reported food hypersensitivity in Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russia. , 2004, Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology.

[31]  G. Reese,et al.  Molecular Basis of Arthropod Cross-Reactivity: IgE-Binding Cross-Reactive Epitopes of Shrimp, House Dust Mite and Cockroach Tropomyosins , 2002, International Archives of Allergy and Immunology.

[32]  T. Robins,et al.  Occupational seafood allergy: a review , 2001, Occupational and environmental medicine.

[33]  E. Nettis,et al.  IgE-mediated urticaria/angioedema after ingestion of mussels. , 2001, Acta dermato-venereologica.

[34]  S. Murad,et al.  Skin Prick Test Reactivity to Foods in Adult Malaysians with Rhinitis , 2000, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[35]  G. Reese,et al.  Tropomyosin: An Invertebrate Pan–Allergen , 1999, International Archives of Allergy and Immunology.

[36]  N. Pearce,et al.  Work-related respiratory symptoms and lung function in New Zealand mussel openers. , 1998, American journal of industrial medicine.

[37]  K. Ito,et al.  [Food and food additives hypersensitivity in adult asthmatics. I. Skin scratch test with food allergens and food challenge in adult asthmatics]. , 1998, Arerugi = [Allergy].

[38]  C. Caffarelli,et al.  Anaphylaxis in Children: Clinical and Allergologic Features , 1998, Pediatrics.

[39]  A. Lopata,et al.  The spectrum of allergy to South African bony fish (Teleosti). Evaluation by double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge. , 1997, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde.

[40]  M. Gershwin,et al.  IgE reactivity against a cross-reactive allergen in crustacea and mollusca: evidence for tropomyosin as the common allergen. , 1996, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

[41]  T. Carrillo,et al.  Food hypersensitivity among adult patients: epidemiological and clinical aspects. , 1996, Allergologia et immunopathologia.

[42]  J. Malo,et al.  Occupational IgE-mediated sensitization and asthma caused by clam and shrimp. , 1995, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

[43]  R. Rosen,et al.  Urticarial contact dermatitis in food handlers , 1991, The Medical journal of Australia.

[44]  S. Tarlo,et al.  Characteristics of patients with food-related complaints. , 1990, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

[45]  M. Shafee.  Seasonal changes In the biochemical composition , 1981 .

[46]  T. Nakashima.  Studies on bronchial asthma observed in cultured oyster workers. , 1969, Hiroshima journal of medical sciences.