Protophormia terraenovae. A new allergenic species in amateur fishermen of Caceres, Spain.
BACKGROUND
Asticot maggot (Blowfly, Calliphoridae family) is the most important live bait used for angling in our country. Prevalence of allergy to live fish bait in occupationally exposed workers has been described. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asticot allergy in amateur fishermen and the identification of marketed asticot species in Cáceres, Spain.


METHODS
Seventy-two randomised selected patients (Angler's Society of Cáceres) completed a questionnaire about fishing habits and allergic symptoms related with live bait handling. Skin prick test (SPT) with local asticot and common earthworm extracts were performed. Serum IgE levels to imported species (Protophormia terraenovae, Calliphora vomitoria, Lucilia sericata, Lumbricus terrestris) were measured. Local asticot and common earthworm samples were obtained for taxonomic identification. Data were analysed using the SPSS 12.0 software.


RESULTS
Five patients (7 %) reported allergic symptoms caused by asticot maggots. All of them were positive for SPT to asticot and specific IgE to P. terraenovae. Sensitisation to P. terraenovae was found in 40 patients (58.8 %). No associated factors for asticot allergy were observed. Larvae and adult flies of local asticot samples were identified as P. terraenovae.


CONCLUSIONS
Commercially available asticot, in Cáceres, is composed by P. terraenovae larvae (Diptera. Calliphoridae). A 7 % prevalence of P. terraenovae allergy in amateur fishermen of Cáceres was obtained. The allergenic potential of P. terraenovae seems to be greater than that of other blowflies and L. terrestris. The SPT with P. terraenovae extract is a very sensitive and specific technique in the diagnosis of live bait allergy in fishermen.
Carreño
Sergio Porcel
SP
Sección Alergología, Complejo Hospitalario de Cáceres, Cáceres, Spain. seporcel@yahoo.es
de la Losa
Fernando Pineda
FP
Carrión
Eva Frontera
EF
Martín
Elena Rodríguez
ER
Cantariño
Alfonso Ramos
AR
González
Ana Sánchez
AS
Trabado
Ana Rodríguez
AR
Timón
Soledad Jiménez
SJ
Arenas
Manuela Alvarado
MA
Velasco
Víctor Medina
VM
Martín
María Rodríguez
MR
Arbeiza
Javier Hernández
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E