Allergenic cross-reactivity between the nematode Anisakis simplex and the dust mites Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae,and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

Background: The nematode Anisakis simplex is a common parasite on fish and other seafood. It is considered to be a food allergen and to induce IgE-med iated reactions. Allergenic cross-reactivity between A. simplex and other n ematodes has been reported, as has cross-reactivity with arthropods: red mo squito larvae and German cockroach. We have here studied the allergenic rel ationship between A. simplex and four different dust-mite species. Methods: Serum samples collected from 69 farmers allergic to dust mites wer e analyzed for IgE to A. simplex by CAP FEIA. Allergenic cross-reactivity b etween A. simplex and dust mites was studied in two of the sera by CAP FEIA and immunoblotting inhibition. Results: We found that 14/69 farmers had detectable levels of IgE antibodie s to A. simplex. The IgE response in CAP FEIA to A. simplex was inhibited t o various degrees in the two studied sera by extracts of the dust mites Aca rus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, and Dermatoph agoides pteronyssinus. In the reverse inhibition experiment, extract of A. simplex inhibited the response in both sera to A. sire and T. putrescentiae , but not to L. destructor. The IgE binding to D. pteronyssinus was inhibit ed in one of the two sera. In blotting inhibition experiments, the IgE bind ing to several allergens in A. simplex was inhibited by each of the four mi te extracts, especially by A. siro and T. putrescentiae, which completely i nhibited the IgE binding to several allergens. Conclusions: The results show allergenic cross-reactivity between several a llergens in A. simplex and four dust-mite species. The clinical significanc e of this cross-reactivity remains to be evaluated.