Abstract
As the growing world demography will require larger amounts of food proteins, the idea to promote enthomophagy has emerged. Several arthropods like mealworms (Tenebrio molitor (TM) and crickets (Acheta domesticus (AD)) become commercially available. The aim of this work was to assess the potential allergenicity of TM and AD on occupationally exposed subjects.
The study population consisted of workers in an enthomology research unit (n=31) (Agro-Biotec) and a (non) atopic (n=22) control population from our clinical unit. Skin prick tests (SPT) were made with 4 extracts: delipidated (80 % of proteins) TM and AD and grilled (10 min 200°) TM and AD. Specific IgE (sIgE) against Dpt, TM, cockroach, shrimp, rPen a1 and Der p10 were measured in the exposed population and in the sensitized control population.
Among exposed subjects, 6 (19%) were sensitized: 4 had at least 1 positive SPT (delipidated TM (n=2), delipidated AD (n=2), TM (n=3)) and 5 had positive sIgE to TM (cosensitized to Dpt (n=3), cockroach (n=2) and shrimp (n=1)). One subject (3%) suffered from occupational allergic rhinitis and asthma. Three members were sensitized to shrimp, 1 to tropomyosin, 6 to cockroach and 19 to Dpt. The mean exposure was 3.5 years. One subject suffered from rhinitis and food hypersensitivity to TM but refused to be included. In the control population, 1 delipidated AD positive SPT was observed.
We confirm that skin and respiratory exposures to TM and AD can induce sensitization among workers in contact with insects. This risk was described with fishing bait and grains workers. This new kind of occupational exposure requires interest considering the likely increasing production of insects and their introduction in our diets.
- © 2014 ERS