Usefulness of currently available methods for the diagnosis of Anisakis simplex allergy.
BACKGROUND
Serodiagnosis of anisakiosis and Anisakis allergy is difficult since many Anisakis antigens show cross-reactivity complications. In the present study, we assess the usefulness of the major immunologic methods currently available for the diagnosis of Anisakis allergy.


METHODS
Four tests (skin prick test, CAP-FEIA system, Western blotting, and an antigen-capture ELISA using O-deglycosylated antigen bound by the monoclonal antibody UA3) were applied to Anisakis-free subjects and subjects with confirmed Anisakis allergy.


RESULTS
The skin prick test, CAP-FEIA, and the antigen-capture ELISA identified Anisakis allergy sera with 100% sensitivity, while Western blotting showed 96%/ sensitivity. The antigen-capture ELISA also showed 100% specificity, but CAP-FEIA showed a specificity of only 50%. In Western blotting, none of the bands detected were specific for either Anisakis-free or Anisakis allergy subjects. The skin prick test was not applied to the Anisakis-free subjects, so its specificity could not be determined.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of these results, we suggest that the most appropriate procedure for diagnosis of Anisakis allergy suspected on clinical grounds is the antigen-capture ELISA using UA3, or, alternatively, a preliminary skin prick test with a positive result subsequently confirmed by UA3-ELISA.
Lorenzo
S
S
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Iglesias
R
R
Leiro
J
J
Ubeira
F M
FM
Ansotegui
I
I
García
M
M
Fernández de Corres
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017163:Anisakis / Q000276:immunology*; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007073:Immunoglobulin E