Ganseman Eva, Goossens Janne, Blanter Marfa, Jonckheere Anne-Charlotte, Bergmans Nele, Vanbrabant Lotte, Gouwy Mieke, Ronsmans Steven, Vandenbroeck Sofie, Dupont Lieven J, Vanoirbeek Jeroen, Bullens Dominique M A, Breynaert Christine, Proost Paul, Schrijvers Rik
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 Dec;11(12):3732-3741.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.07.039. Epub 2023 Aug 4.
Exposure to insects used in pet food, scientific research, or live fish bait can cause an occupational allergy. The recent shift toward enhanced insect production for human consumption and animal feed will likely expose more employees.
To investigate sensitization and symptoms in employees exposed to edible insects in Flanders.
Fifteen insect-exposed employees were recruited and sensitization was explored by skin prick test, basophil activation test, and immunoblotting. Lung function, FeNO, histamine provocation, and sputum induction were studied. Airborne dust sampling was performed and proteins were studied by silver stain and immunoblotting.
Sixty percent of employees self-reported upper respiratory tract symptoms related to insect exposure. Ten employees (71.4%) had a positive histamine provocation test concentration causing a 20% drop in FEV1 less than 8 mg/mL and four (26.7%) had FeNO levels above 25 ppb. Four employees (30.7%) had a positive skin prick test for at least one insect, and seven (58.3%) had a positive basophil activation test. In eight participants with insect sensitization, four (50%) had co-occurring house dust mite sensitization. Two participants had strong IgE binding to a 50-kDa migratory locust allergen, one to a 25-kDa mealworm allergen, and one to mealworm α-amylase. In one center, facility adjustment resulted in a substantial decrease in the inhalable dust fraction.
Insect exposure leads to high levels of sensitization among employees. Most employees reported symptoms of the upper respiratory system, and two-thirds of employees had bronchial hyperreactivity. Prevention and health surveillance will be important in the developing insect-rearing industry.
接触用于宠物食品、科学研究或活鱼饵的昆虫可导致职业性过敏。最近向增加食用昆虫和动物饲料生产的转变可能会使更多员工面临接触风险。
调查弗拉芒地区接触可食用昆虫的员工的致敏情况和症状。
招募了15名接触昆虫的员工，通过皮肤点刺试验、嗜碱性粒细胞活化试验和免疫印迹法探究致敏情况。研究了肺功能、呼出气一氧化氮（FeNO）、组胺激发试验和痰液诱导试验。进行了空气传播灰尘采样，并通过银染和免疫印迹法研究蛋白质。
60%的员工自述有与昆虫接触相关的上呼吸道症状。10名员工（71.4%）组胺激发试验阳性，激发浓度导致第一秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）下降20%时的浓度低于8mg/mL，4名员工（26.7%）的FeNO水平高于25ppb。4名员工（30.7%）至少对一种昆虫的皮肤点刺试验呈阳性，7名员工（58.3%）嗜碱性粒细胞活化试验呈阳性。在8名对昆虫致敏的参与者中，4名（50%）同时对屋尘螨致敏。2名参与者的免疫球蛋白E（IgE）与50 kDa的飞蝗过敏原强烈结合，1名与25 kDa的黄粉虫过敏原结合，1名与黄粉虫α淀粉酶结合。在一个中心，设施调整使可吸入灰尘比例大幅下降。
接触昆虫会导致员工高度致敏。大多数员工报告有上呼吸道系统症状，三分之二的员工有支气管高反应性。在发展中的昆虫养殖行业，预防和健康监测将很重要。
