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Occupational allergy in greenhouse workers: sensitization to Tetranychus urticae
Author(s) -
DELGADO J.,
ORTA J. C.,
NAVARRO A. M.,
CONDE J.,
MARTÍNEZ A.,
MARTINEZ J.,
PALACIOS R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1997.tb01191.x
Subject(s) - provocation test , medicine , allergy , mite , occupational asthma , immunoglobulin e , allergen , sensitization , asthma , immunology , tetranychus urticae , occupational disease , dermatology , environmental health , biology , antibody , pathology , botany , alternative medicine
Summary Background Tetranychus urticae (TU) is a macroscopic mite which is found infesting a large number of plants of economic interest. It has rarely been described as a cause of occupational allergic disease in agricultural workers. Objective To describe TU sensitization in greenhouse workers attending the outpatient allergy unit and its clinical associations, and to characterize the allergens involved. Materials and methods Twenty‐four consecutive carnation greenhouse workers with allergy‐related symptoms, referred to our outpatient clinic during a 6‐month period, were included. We made the diagnostic extract from carnation leaves heavily infested with TU. Skin‐prick test, specific IgE measurement and bronchial provocation test with TU extract were carried out in all subjects. Allergen characterization was achieved by SDS‐PAGE (sodium dodecylsulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and immunoblotting Results Sixteen patients (66%) presented positive skin‐prick test and specific IgE and were diagnosed allergic to TU. Fifteen patients suffered from bronchial asthma, 14 rhinitis and five urticaria. Twelve exibited positive bronchial provocation test to the TU extract. On RAST‐inhibition studies, there was no evidence of crossreactivity between TU extract and D. pteronyssinus . An allergen at 19 kDa was determined in the TU extract by SDS‐PAGE immunoblotting studies. Conclusion TU could be an important occupational allergen in greenhouse workers showing allergic symptomatology. There is no crossreactivity between this mite and the house dust mite D. pteronyssinus .