i203 Mediterranean flour moth

Allergens within Insects

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  • Latin name: Ephestia kuehniella
  • Family: Pyralidae
  • Source material: Whole insect bodies
Synonyms: Anagasta kuehniella
 
Sensitization to moth has been shown to be quite common. It seems to be mostly an occupational allergen.

Allergen Exposure

Allergen-exposure can occur at moth breeding (rearing) industries for pest control (1-3) and as a contaminating factor in flour and cereals (4).

Potential Cross-Reactivity

There seems to be very strong cross-reactivity among the various Lepidoptera species (moths and butterflies) and to some degree also with other insects. Both common and species-specific allergens exist and one common allergen appears to be the actin binding protein tropomyosin (5).

Clinical Experience

Sensitization to moth allergens has been shown to be quite common and IgE mediated reactions can induce both asthma and allergic rhinitis (6-11).
 
It seems to be mostly an occupational allergen. In an immunological study in Italy (2-3) performed on a group of workers employed in breeding insects, among them Ephestia kuehniella, the results confirmed a high risk for sensitization. In a French study sensitization to Ephestia spp. has also been seen among bakers and pastry workers (4).
 
Review
Allergen-exposure can occur at moth breeding (rearing) industries for pest control (1-3) and as a contaminating factor in flour and cereals (4). There seems to be very strong cross-reactivity among the various Lepidoptera species (moths and butterflies) and to some degree also with other insects. Both common and species-specific allergens exist and one common allergen appears to be the actin binding protein tropomyosin (5).

Sensitization to moth allergens has been shown to be quite common and IgE mediated reactions can induce both asthma and allergic rhinitis (6-11). It seems to be mostly an occupational allergen. In an immunological study in Italy (2-3) performed on a group of workers employed in breeding insects, among them Ephestia kuehniella, the results confirmed a high risk for sensitization. In a French study sensitization to Ephestia spp. has also been seen among bakers and pastry workers (4).

References:

    1. Davis, FM; Jenkins, JN. Management of scales and other insect debris: Occupational health hazard in a Lepidopterous rearing facility. J Econ Entomol 1995;88:185-91.
    2. Cipolla, C; Lugo, G; Sassi, C; Belisario, A; Nucci, MC; Palermo, A; Pescarelli, MA; Nobile, M; Raffi, GB. A new risk of occupational disease: allergic asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis in persons working with beneficial arthropods. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1996;68:133-5.
    3. Cipolla, C; Lugo, G; Sassi, C; et al. [Sensitization and allergic pathology in a group of workers employed in insect breeding for biological pest control]. [Italian] Medicina del Lavoro 1997;88:220-5.
    4. Bataille, A; Anton, M; Mollat, F; Bobe, M; Bonneau, C; Caramaniam, MN; Geraut, C; Dupas, D. [Respiratory allergies among symptomatic bakers and pastry cooks: initial results of a prevalence study]. [French] Allergie et Immunologie 1995;27:7-10.
    5. Martinez, A; Martinez, J; Palacios, R; Panzani, R. Importance of tropomyosin in the allergy to household arthropods. Cross-reactivity with other invertebrate extracts. Allergol et Immunopathol 1997;25:118-26.
    6. Parlato, SJ. Emanations of flies as exciting causes of allergic coryza and asthma. III. Hypersensitiveness to moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera). J Allergy 1932;3:125-38.
    7. Perlman, F. Insects as inhalant allergens. Consideration of aerobiology, biochemistry, preparation of material, and clinical observation. J Allergy 1958;29:302-28.
    8. Cabanieu, G; Bezian, JH; Morichau-Beauchant, G; Capbern, A; Pautrizel, R. [Detection of precipitating antibodies in allergy to Ephestia kuehniella]. [French] Rev Fr Allergol 1971;11:257-63.
    9. Kang, B; Chang, JL. Allergenic impact of inhaled arthropod material. Clin Rev Allergy 1985;3:363-75.
    10. Baldo, BA; Panzani, RC. Detection of IgE antibodies to a wide range of insect species in subjects with suspected inhalant allergies to insects. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1988;85:278-87.
    11. Schwartz, HJ. Inhalant allergy to arthropods. Clinical significance of arthropod allergy. Clin Rev Allergy 1990;8:3-13.

2002