Contact allergy to propolis in beekeepers

Abstract

This study provides new insights into allergy to propolis. The hypothesis that solvents used to clean the hands could play a role in the development of the disease should be addressed in future studies.

Allergy to honeybee … not only stings

“…However, with the growing industry of 'natural products' and the diversification of applications, the target population has been expanded. Although reaction to bee stings is not correlated with a reaction to propolis [27], the lack of bee stings in beekeeping in a period of time might be associated with a following severe reaction to insect sting and those patients were frequently found to suffer from propolis allergy [27]. Although, major royal jelly proteins 8 and 9 have been identified in honeybee venom and 38% of bee venom allergic patients were found to have sIgE reactivity to royal jelly using immunoblot analysis [28], a cross-reactivity between honeybee venom and royal jelly remains controversial.…”

“…Beekeepers are primarily affected by contact eczema to propolis within a range of 0.76-4.04% [13,14], but musicians, people who make stringed musical instruments and farmers [15,16] are also afflicted. Single cases of a dental technician and a shoemaker after manipulation of beeswax products contaminated with propolis have been also reported.…”

“…A treatment resistant case of anaphylactic shock was seen in a Japanese atopic patient with asthma and atopic eczema after drinking a beverage of crude royal jelly [29]. Likewise, propolis contact allergy is significantly associated with lung diseases and allergic reactions to other sources [27]. Concerns have been raised regarding a possible association between allergy to bee venom and honey.…”

“…Patients at high risk should undertake protective measures. Unfortunately, only 30% of beekeepers allergic to propolis protected their hands despite contact allergy to propolis and from those 21.6% reported frequent use of propolis as a therapeutic product [27]. Despite knowing the possible adverse reactions, there is still no label warning on the packaging of some bee products.…”

Zur besonderen Problematik von Kontaktallergien bei Instrumentalisten

“…In einer klinischen Studie an 7483 gesunden Probanden zeigten zwischen 1,2 bis 3,3 % der Personen bei Hautkontakt eine allergische Reaktion [20]. Auch in anderen Berufsgruppen kommen allergische Reaktionen auf Propolis vor: in einer Studie an 1051 Imker wurden 37 Betroffene (3,6 %) ermittelt [35]. Dabei zeigte sich, dass die Mehrzahl der Betroffenen auch auf andere Allergene vermehrt ansprachen [36].…”