Background: Human anisakidosis is a parasitic disease whose intestinal form
shares several characterictics with Crohn's disease (CD), like the ileocol
onic location predominantly and the presence of granuloma. Methods: 73 CD p
atients diagnosed according to Lennard-Jones' criteria were studied. The di
sease activity was measured by means of Harvey-Bradshaw Index. Different cl
inical variables were analyzed. Antigenic extract of Anisakis simplex larva
e extracted from blue whiting was prepared. Determination of IgG, IgM, IgA
and total specific immunoglobulin against A. simplex were carried out in se
ra by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunorecognition patterns of thes
e sera were realized by immunoblotting analysis. Results were compared with
prevalence of antibodies anti-Anisakis in 251 healthy controls. Results: 2
9% of CD patients showed detectable specific total Ig (G+M+A) against A. si
mplex(95% CI, 19-41). For IgG, IgM and IgA the percentages were 44, 18 and
53% (95% CI, 32-56, 10-26, and 41-65) respectively. In positive specific to
tal Ig cases CD was localized mainly in ileum. In IgG-, IgM- and IgA-positi
ve cases the location was predominantly ileocolonic. CD activity index was
higher for groups with positive IgA (2.86 vs. 5.55; p < 0.05), Conclusion:
Patients with CD have high prevalence of specific immunoglobulin against A.
simplex. Specific IgA are associated to higher activity index of CD.