title: Protophormia terraenovae. A new allergenic species in amateur fishermen of Caceres, Spain.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Sección Alergología, Complejo Hospitalario de Cáceres, Cáceres, Spain. seporcel@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Sergio Porcel
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Carreño
authors.forename: Fernando Pineda
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: de la Losa
authors.forename: Eva Frontera
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Carrión
authors.forename: Elena Rodríguez
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Alfonso Ramos
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cantariño
authors.forename: Ana Sánchez
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Ana Rodríguez
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Trabado
authors.forename: Soledad Jiménez
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Timón
authors.forename: Manuela Alvarado
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arenas
authors.forename: Víctor Medina
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: María Rodríguez
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Javier Hernández
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Arbeiza
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E