title: Anisakis simplex recombinant allergens increase diagnosis specificity preserving high sensitivity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  So far, the frequency of Anisakis simplex-specific IgE antibodies has been determined by skin prick tests (SPTs) and the ImmunoCAP system. These commercial methods have good sensitivity, but their specificity is poor because they use complete parasite extracts. Our aim was to determine the frequency of sensitization to A. simplex using recombinant Ani s 1, Ani s 3, Ani s 5, Ani s 9 and Ani s 10 and to evaluate these allergens for diagnosis, comparing their performance with the commercial methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional validation study performed in an allergy outpatient hospital clinic. Patients without fish-related allergy (tolerant patients, n = 99), and A. simplex-allergic patients (n = 35) were studied by SPTs, ImmunoCAP assays and detection of specific IgE to A. simplex recombinant allergens by dot blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SPTs and ImmunoCAP assays were positive in 18 and 17% of tolerant patients, respectively. All A. simplex-allergic patients had positive SPTs and ImmunoCAP assays. Specific IgE against at least one of the A. simplex recombinant allergens tested was detected in 15% of sera from tolerant patients and in 100% of sera from A. simplex-allergic patients. Detection of at least one A. simplex recombinant allergen by dot blotting and ImmunoCAP assay using complete extract showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% with both methods. However, the specificity of dot blotting with A. simplex recombinant allergens was higher compared with ImmunoCAP (84.85 vs. 82.83%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are 15% of tolerant patients with specific IgE against important A. simplex allergens. The recombinant allergens studied here increase the specificity of A. simplex diagnosis while keeping the highest sensitivity. A. simplex recombinant allergens should be included with A. simplex allergy diagnostic tests to improve their specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Hospital Carlos III, C/Sinesio Delgado 10, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Umpierrez
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perez-Piñar
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moneo
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Burgos
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Asturias
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D017129:Anisakiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017163:Anisakis / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E