title: Occupational allergy to Artemia fish fry feed in aquaculture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Artemia (brine shrimp) is used as feed for fish fry and shrimp in aquaculture. Two employees in a Norwegian aquaculture research farm reported having chest symptoms when working in an Artemia hatch room.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence and prevalence of Artemia sensitization at the farm and the extent of any Artemia-related respiratory and hand skin symptoms and to identify the allergens involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a questionnaire and structured interview. Skin prick tests (SPTs) were performed, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to Artemia, shrimp and recombinant tropomyosin were determined. Gel electrophoresis and immunoblots of Artemia extracts were also carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty of 42 employees (71%) participated. Among the 24 subjects exposed to Artemia, four (17%) reported chest and/or hand skin symptoms during exposure and three of them were IgE sensitized to Artemia. Five (21%) of those exposed demonstrated IgE antibodies to Artemia and four (17%) had immediate-positive SPTs. A serum pool from these subjects exhibited IgE binding to a protein of approximately 97 kDa in the Artemia extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational exposure to the Artemia fish fry feed can cause IgE sensitization and allergic symptoms affecting airways and skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. jens-tore.granslo@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Jens-Tore
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Granslo
authors.forename: Thien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Do
authors.forename: Tor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Aasen
authors.forename: Agot
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irgens
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Florvaag