Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma in a wool worker caused by Dermestidae spp.
BACKGROUND
The family Dermestidae belongs to the order Coleoptera. Occupational allergy has been described in museum personnel. A 31-year-old male wool worker presenting rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma episodes probably linked to exposure to Dermestidae-infected wool was investigated.


METHODS
Extracts prepared either from insect bodies or from dust from parasitized wool were used for skin prick testing (SPT), conjunctival and bronchial provocation tests and in vitro determinations.


RESULTS
SPT and provocation tests were positive to both extracts. PEFR measurement demonstrated the association between the patient's symptoms and occupational exposure to Dermestidae. Specific IgE to both extracts was detected and immunoblotting revealed several protein bands from 5 to 200 kDa that were reactive to IgE from the patient's serum.


CONCLUSIONS
Dermestidae exposure in wool workers when handling parasitized wool can be a cause of IgE-mediated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma.
Brito
F Feo
FF
Section of Allergy, Hospital Complex, Ronda del Carmen, s/n 13002 Ciudad Real, Madrid, Spain.
Mur
P
P
Barber
D
D
Lombardero
M
M
Galindo
P A
PA
Gómez
E
E
Borja
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D014935:Wool / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
D000485:Allergens; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D019819:Budesonide; D000420:Albuterol