Frequent Allergic Sensitization to Farmed Edible Insects in Exposed Employees.

Cross-sectional study Edible insects Occupational allergy Sensitization Work-related symptoms

Journal

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice
ISSN: 2213-2201
Titre abrégé: J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101597220

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Dec 2023
Historique:
received: 10 02 2023
revised: 29 06 2023
accepted: 26 07 2023
pubmed: 6 8 2023
medline: 6 8 2023
entrez: 5 8 2023
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

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.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
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.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
To investigate sensitization and symptoms in employees exposed to edible insects in Flanders.
METHODS METHODS
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.
RESULTS RESULTS
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.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
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.

Identifiants

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.07.039 PMID: 37543086
pubmed: 37543086
pii: S2213-2198(23)00814-0
doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.07.039
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

3732-3741.e10

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Auteurs

Eva Ganseman (E)

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.

Janne Goossens (J)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Marfa Blanter (M)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Anne-Charlotte Jonckheere (AC)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Nele Bergmans (N)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Lotte Vanbrabant (L)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Mieke Gouwy (M)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Steven Ronsmans (S)

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Sofie Vandenbroeck (S)

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Knowledge, Information and Research Department, Heverlee, Belgium.

Lieven J Dupont (LJ)

Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Pneumology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Jeroen Vanoirbeek (J)

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Dominique M A Bullens (DMA)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Pediatrics., University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Christine Breynaert (C)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department General Internal Medicine-Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Paul Proost (P)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Rik Schrijvers (R)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department General Internal Medicine-Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: rik.schrijvers@uzleuven.be.

Classifications MeSH