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Airborne Seafood Allergens as a Cause of Occupational Allergy and Asthma

  • ALLERGENS (RK BUSH, SECTION EDITOR)
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Abstract

Occupational allergy and asthma is a serious adverse health outcome affecting seafood-processing workers. Allergic reactions are directed to two major seafood groups: fish and shellfish, with the latter group comprising crustaceans and molluscs. Several allergenic proteins have been identified in these different groups, but few have been characterised on a molecular level. Parvalbumin appears to be the major fish allergen, while tropomyosin the major crustacean allergen. Other IgE-binding proteins have also been identified in molluscs and other seafood-associated agents (e.g. Anisakis sp), although their molecular nature has not been characterised. Aerosolised allergens can be identified and quantified using immunological and chemical approaches, detecting levels as low as 10 ng/m3. This contemporary review discusses interesting and recent findings in the area of occupational seafood allergy including high-risk occupations, environmental risk factors for airborne exposures, major and minor allergens implicated and innovative approaches in diagnosing and managing occupational allergy and asthma associated with seafood processing.

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Acknowledgments

Andreas L. Lopata is funded by the Australian Research Council and is holder of an ARC Future Fellowship. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Sandip Kamath in preparing the graphics for this manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

Andreas L. Lopata declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Mohamed F. Jeebhay declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy and Molecular Science, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

    Andreas L. Lopata

  2. Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Mohamed F. Jeebhay

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Correspondence to Andreas L. Lopata.

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Lopata, A.L., Jeebhay, M.F. Airborne Seafood Allergens as a Cause of Occupational Allergy and Asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 13, 288–297 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-013-0347-y

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