title: Heterogeneity in Allergy to Mollusks: A Clinical-Immunological Study in a Population From the North of Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergy to mollusks has been the focus of fewer studies than allergy to crustaceans. Furthermore, allergy to mollusks is less well characterized. Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of mollusk-allergic patients, to identify the responsible allergens, and to assess cross-reactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective multicenter study including 45 patients with mollusk allergy, which was diagnosed based on a suggestive clinical history and a positive skin test result with the agent involved. Fractions were identified using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The proteins responsible were subsequently identified using mass spectrometry. ELISA inhibition studies were performed with mollusks, dust mites, and crustaceans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 25 patients (55%) were allergic to cephalopods, 14 (31%) to bivalves, and 11 (24%) to gastropods. Limpet was the third most frequent cause of allergy (15% of cases). In 31 patients (69%), the manifestation was systemic; 10 (22%) exhibited oral allergy syndrome, and 7 (15%) experienced contact urticaria. Most major allergens were found between 27 kDa and 47 kDa. ELISA inhibition assays revealed a high degree of inhibition of cephalopods and bivalves from all the groups of mollusks, mites, and crustaceans. Mass spectrometry identified tropomyosin, actin, and myosin as the major allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cephalopods, especially squid, are the mollusks that most frequently trigger allergic symptoms. The very frequent occurrence of allergy to limpets is striking, given their low consumption in our area. It is worth highlighting the heterogeneity observed, exemplified by the gastropods. Tropomyosin appears to be responsible for the high cross-reactivity found between mollusks, mites, and crustaceans. Three new mollusk allergens were also identified, namely, actin, enolase, and a putative C1q domain-containing protein.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Área de Gestión del Pulmón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azofra
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Echechipía
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Irazábal
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Araba, Vitoria, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Araba, Vitoria, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernedo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alergia, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastaminza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alergia, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goikoetxea
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joral
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lasa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Área de Gestión del Pulmón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Área de Gestión del Pulmón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beristain
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Área de Gestión del Pulmón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quiñones
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Galdácano, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernaola
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Mendaro, Guipúzcoa, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Echenagusia
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liarte
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alergia, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Araba, Vitoria, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Araba, Vitoria, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pastor-Vargas
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D000818:Animals; D008974:Mollusca / Q000276:immunology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D005260:Female; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D008875:Middle Aged; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000293:Adolescent; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D000368:Aged; D000067208:Shellfish Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D002648:Child; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergens; Allergy; Mollusk