i72 Green nimitti

Allergens within Insects

Print Print icon Tell a friend Tell a friend icon
  • Latin name: Cladotanytarsus Lewisi
  • Family: Chironomidae
  • Source material: Whole insects and maggots
Chironomids, because of their worldwide distribution, have been recognized as an important cause of environmental and occupational inhalation allergy.

Allergen Exposure

Cladotanytarsus lewisi (Green nimitti, Sudan fly) is a non-biting midge that breeds in lakes, rivers and water reservoirs. Green nimitti belongs to the Chironomidae, one of the largest insect families, comprising approximately 10 000 species (1).
 
Chironomids, because of their worldwide distribution, have been recognized as an important cause of environmental and occupational inhalation allergy. Larvae and midges cause allergic reactions in approximately 20% of exposed people (2).

Potential Cross-Reactivity

It is known that polymorph hemoglobins of many chironomid species are cross-reactive (1, 10). Using sera from clinically sensitized subjects, a strong immunological cross-reactivity between 14 chironomid species of different localities was found (1). Correlations between chironomids and D. pteronyssinus allergy, between chironomids and mosquito allergy, and between chironomids and cockroach allergy have been demonstrated, indicating that a relationship exists (11-12). This is emphasized in sensitized patients who show levels of specific IgE without being apparently exposed to chironomids (13).

Clinical Experience

Hypersensitivity to Green nimitti has been a widespread problem for a long time. The symptoms are mainly bronchial asthma and rhinitis (3-5).
 
Review
Cladotanytarsus lewisi (Green nimitti, Sudan fly) is a non-biting midge that breeds in lakes, rivers and water reservoirs. Green nimitti belongs to the Chironomidae, one of the largest insect families, comprising approximately 10 000 species (1).
 
Chironomids, because of their worldwide distribution, have been recognized as an important cause of environmental and occupational inhalation allergy. Larvae and midges cause allergic reactions in approximately 20% of exposed people (2).
 
Hypersensitivity to Green nimitti has been a widespread problem for a long time. The symptoms are mainly bronchial asthma and rhinitis (3-5).

More than 20 species of Chironomidae have been identified along a lakefront in central Florida. Glyptotendipes paripes was the most abundant, followed by Chironomus crassi-caudatus (6). Another report from southern California describes large problems in man-made lakes, that have become habitats for various species of Chironomus midges (7).

Chironomus thummi is found all over Europe, whereas Chironomus plumosus and Chironomus yoshimatsui are especially abundant in Japan.

Results indicate that the major allergens are chironomid hemoglobins (8-10).
 
Among Green nimitti allergic Sudanese patients, 46.2% were shown to have IgE antibodies directed to the main Chironomus hemoglobin antigen, Chi t I (2).

It is known that polymorph hemoglobins of many chironomid species are cross-reactive (1, 10). Using sera from clinically sensitized subjects a strong immunological cross-reactivity between 14 chironomid species of different localities was found (1). Therefore, from a clinical point of view, this means that sensitized persons worldwide may react to species from other geographic regions.

Correlations between chironomids and D. pteronyssinus allergy, between chironomids and mosquito allergy, and between chironomids and cockroach allergy have been demonstrated, indicating that a relationship exists (11-12). This is emphasized in sensitized patients who show levels of specific IgE without being apparently exposed to chironomids (13). 

References:

    1. Baur X, Dewair M, Haegele K, Prelicz H, Scholl A, Tichy H. Common antigenic determinants of haemoglobin as basis of immunological cross-reactivity between chironomid species (Diptera, Chironomidae): studies with human and animal sera. Clin Exp Immunol 1983;54:599-607.
    2. Baur X. Chironomid midge allergy.[Review]. Jpn J Allergol 1992;41: 81-5.
    3. Gad El Rab MO, Kay AB. Widespread immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity in the Sudan to the "green nimitti" midge, Cladotanytarsus lewisi (diptera: Chironomidae). I. Diagnosis by radioallergosorbent test. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1980;66(3):190-7.
    4. Kay AB, MacLean U, Wilkinson AH, Gad El Rab MO. The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in a Sudanese community seasonally exposed to a potent airborne allergen (the "green nimitti" midge, Cladotanytarsus lewisi). J Allergy Clin Immunol 1983;71:345-52.
    5. Cranston PS, Gad El Rab MO, Tee RD, Kay AB. Immediate-type skin reactivity to extracts of the "green nimitti" midge, (Cladotanytarsus lewisi), and other chironomids in asthmatic subjects in the Sudan and Egypt. Ann Trop Med Parasit 1983;77:527-33.
    6. Ali A, Lobinske RJ, Chaudhuri PK. Long-term (1980-94) population trends of pestiferous Chironomidae (Diptera) along a lakefront in central Florida. J Am Mosquito Control Assoc 1996;12:106-11.
    7. Lothrop BB, Mulla MS. Mode of existence and seasonality of the midge larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in man-made lakes in the Coachella valley, southern California. Jam Mosquito Control Assoc 1995;11:77-85.
    8. Tee RD, Cranston PS, Kay AB. Further characterisation of allergens associated with hypersensitivity to the "green nimitti" midge (Cladotanytarsus lewisi, Diptera: Chironomidae). Allergy 1987;42:12-9.
    9. Liebers V, Baur X. Chironomidae haemoglobin Chi t I-characterization of an important inhalant allergen. Clin Exp Allergy;1994:100-8.
    10. Tee RD, Cranston PS, Dewair M, Prelicz H, Baur X, Kay AB. Evidence for haemoglobins as common allergenic determinants in IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to chironomids (non-biting midges). Clin Allergy 1985;15:335-43.
    11. Galindo PA, Feo F, Gómez E, Borja J, Melero R, Lombardero M. et al. Hypersensitivity to chironomid larvae. Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 1998;8:219-25.
    12. Pascual CY, Crespo JF, San Martin S, Ornia N, Ortega N, Caballero T. et al. Cross-reactivity between IgE-binding proteins from Anisakis, German cockroach, and chironomids. Allergy ;1997:514-20.
    13. Galindo PA, Lombardero , Mur P, Feo F, Gómez E, Borja J. et al. Patterns of immunoglobulin E sensitization to chironomids in exposed and unexposed subjects. Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 1999;9:117-22.

2000