title: An unusual case of occupational asthma in a part time magician. He has got an allergy surprise from his top hat!
abstract: In this report we describe a case of respiratory allergy induced by an unusual occupational exposure to rabbit. The patient worked as a part-time magician in theatres and private parties and the most popular performance of his show was to pull out a white rabbit from a top hat. Unfortunately, a few minutes after the extraction of rabbit from top hat, the patient experienced the onset of upper and lower airway symptoms, and in some occasions he was forced to stop the show and to use short acting β₂agonists and intramuscular steroids. The results of SPT and evaluation of serological specific IgE (ImmunoCAP and ImmunoCAP ISAC IgE) revealed allergic sensitization to rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) dander as well as to Parietaria and dust mites. ImmunoCAP ISAC IgE excluded allergic sensitization to other cross-reacting animal allergens. Rabbit constitutes a reliable risk factor for allergic sensitization in individuals working as professional / part-time magicians or as animators in some recreational settings (resorts, parties, charity shows, etc).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Division of Pneumology and Allergology High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital Piazzetta Arenella n. 7, 80128 Naples, Italy Phone: +39 081 747 33 35-4-3 Fax : + 39 081 747 33 31 E-mail: gennaro.liccardi@tin.it.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liccardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Billeri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foglia
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Preventive Medicine, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sapio
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Division of Pneumology and Allergology. High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Giglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Division of Pneumology and Allergology. High Speciality "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Amato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D063607:Dander / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergy; allergic rhinitis; allergic sensitization; bronchial asthma; magician; occupational asthma; pet allergy; rabbit