title: Prevalence of sensitization to Anisakis simplex among professionally exposed populations in Sicily.
abstract: Anisakis simplex (AS) is a cause of allergic sensitization and potential occupational risk is suggested in fishermen and workers assigned to fish processing and sale. A cross-sectional study was conducted in order to assess possible health effects of occupational exposure to AS in workers recruited from western Sicily fisheries sector. Social, demographic, and occupation-related data were collected. Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE levels to AS (threshold >0.35 kU/L) were determined by an fluoroimmunoassay technique. Ninety-four subjects with potential occupational exposure (fishmongers, fishermen, fish industry employees) were recruited. Specific AS IgEs were detected in 20.2% of the study population. AS IgE seroprevalence was elevated 6.7-fold (p = .03) among fishermen/sailors compared with fish industry workers. The study suggested the importance to adopt specific prevention strategies against exposure to AS in the occupational setting.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Scienze Promozione della Salute-Sezione Igiene, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. waltermazzucco@unipa.it
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lacca
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cusimano
authors.forename: Ambra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Provenzani
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Noto
authors.forename: Maria Fatima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Massenti
authors.forename: Maria Stefania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Leto-Barone
authors.forename: Gabriele Di
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017163:Anisakis / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005398:Fisheries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E