IgE sensitization to Anisakis pegreffii in Italy: Comparison of two methods for the diagnosis of allergic anisakiasis

Abstract

IgE sensitization to Anisakis pegreffii in Italian subjects suffering from gastro-allergic anisakiasis (GAA) (N=5), or showing chronic urticaria (CU+) after fish consumption (N=100), was investigated. A control group (N=5) was also included. IgE response was analysed by immunoblotting (WB) assay, using both excretory/secretory products (ESPs) and crude extract (CE) of A. pegreffii larvae. The results were compared with those achieved by the conventional immunological method for Anisakis allergy (ie, immunoCAP). Among the 110 subjects, 28 showed IgE positivity with both WB and iCAP methods; 13 proved IgE reactivity, in WB assay, to ESP antigens of A. pegreffii, here provisionally indicated as Ani s 1-like, Ani s 7-like, Ani s 13-like; only 15 sera have shown IgE-WB reaction to Ani s 7-like and Ani s 13-like. iCAP and WB exhibited a high concordance value (κ=1.00) when iCAP value was <0.35 (negative result) and >50.0 (positive result). In the sera samples recorded as positive to Anisakis allergy, Ani s 1-like was responsible for 46.4% of the sensitivity, while Ani s 7-like and Ani s 13-like for 100%. They could be considered as major antigens in the diagnosis of allergic anisakiasis caused by A. pegreffii.

Anisakis pegreffii impacts differentiation and function of human dendritic cells

“…Recently, the C‐type lectin receptors, recognizing carbohydrate ligands, seem to play a key role in triggering immunosuppressive functions of DCs by helminths . Interestingly, Ani s 7, among the major allergens in A. pegreffii , is indeed a glycoprotein …”

“…Among these, Anisakis simplex (sensu stricto ) and Anisakis pegreffii are shown to play a zoonotic role in humans . Anisakis pegreffii infection can provoke gastric (GA), intestinal (IA) and gastroallergic anisakiasis (GAA) …”

“…Sometimes, the infection can also generate mild or strong allergic symptoms such as urticaria-angio-oedema to anaphylaxis. Indeed, specific A. pegreffii-IgE response has been found in the serum of sensitized patients, 10 accompanied by a predominant Th2-type response to the parasite. 13 Results from murine models have confirmed that predominant Th2 immune responses are induced by infestation with the live larvae, 12 while a mixed Th1/Th2 polarization is observed when the parasite crude extracts are used as immunogen.…”

Gene expression profiles of antigenic proteins of third stage larvae of the zoonotic nematode Anisakis pegreffii in response to temperature conditions

“…Humans can acquire an accidental infection with A. pegreffii mainly through consumption of raw, marinated, or undercooked fish fillets (mainly anchovies in Mediterranean countries) infected by the third stage larvae of this parasite (reviewed in [25,43]). Several cases of anisakiasis, due to the species A. pegreffii, have been reported in Italy [20,22,25,37,38,[41][42][43], Croatia [47], Japan [60] and South Korea [33]. These geographical areas, where human anisakiasis due to A. pegreffii has been described, correspond to areas where a high rate of parasite infection has been reported in commercial fish species [43].…”

Paucisymptomatic gastric anisakiasis: endoscopical removal of Anisakis sp. larva

“…and its antigens are the activation of Th2, leading to the secretion of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13 cells, which promote mast cell hyperplasia and eosinophilia. A recent study of Mattiucci et al [11] has shown that Ani s 7-like and Ani s 13-like, detected in the sera samples, could be considered as major antigens in the diagnosis of allergic anisakiasis caused by A. pegreffii.…”