title: The Anisakis allergy debate: does an evolutionary approach help?
abstract: Allergic phenomena share common pathways with the immune response against helminth parasites. The definitions regarding allergens and their related concepts have their roots in the area of allergy research. The experience with the fish parasite Anisakis simplex-associated allergic features still nurtures an open debate on the necessity of larvae being alive to induce allergic reactions such as urticaria or anaphylaxis. Conceptual definitions of allergen, major allergen, as well as putatively crossreacting antibodies, as are used in food allergy, depend on the clinical relevance of specific IgE and deserve careful interpretation in the various forms of A. simplex-associated allergic features. Conversely, an evolutionary based interpretation of the presence of specific IgE depends on the viability of A. simplex.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain. alvarodaschner@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daschner
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuéllar
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodero
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D017163:Anisakis / Q000276:immunology*; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D017747:Seafood / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007073:Immunoglobulin E