Occupational rhinitis and asthma due to crickets.
BACKGROUND
Insects may cause airborne hypersensitivity reactions. However, few reports exist on specific allergy to crickets.


OBJECTIVE
To report a case of occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma in a cricket farm worker.


METHODS
A 28-year-old woman developed rhinitis and bronchial asthma related to her job in a farm where she was exposed to crickets: Gryllus campestris, Gryllus bimaculatus, and Acheta domestica. Extracts were prepared from whole and crushed bodies and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Skin prick tests, specific IgE assays (enzyme allergosorbent test [EAST], immunoblotting, EAST inhibition assays), serial peak expiratory flow monitoring at work, and specific (A domestica) and nonspecific bronchial challenge tests were performed.


RESULTS
Skin prick test results were positive for G campestris, G bimaculatus, and A domestica. Levels of specific IgE were 2.9, 2.4, and 5.4 kU/L, respectively. The total IgE level was 131 kU/L. Serial peak expiratory flow monitoring at work was consistent with occupational asthma. The result of a bronchial challenge test with A domestica was positive with a dual response and elicited an increase in nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting revealed a similar pattern of IgE-binding bands with the 3 cricket extracts (bands of 78 and 64 kDa appeared in nonreducing conditions, whereas bands of 107 to 80, 58, and 52 kDa appeared in reducing conditions). None of these bands was detected by control sera. EAST inhibition studies showed a high degree of cross-reactivity among the 3 species.


CONCLUSIONS
Crickets are responsible for occupational rhinitis and asthma by an IgE mechanism. Cross-reactivity among the crickets tested in our study was found.
Linares
Tania
T
Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain. tanialergia@hotmail.com
Hernandez
Dolores
D
Bartolome
Borja
B
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006135:Gryllidae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D000941:Antigens; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine