i71 Mosquito

Allergens within Insects

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  • Latin name: Aedes communis
  • Family: Culicidae
  • Source material: Whole insect
Both IgE-mediated and T-lymphocyte-mediated hypersensitivities are involved in the development of mosquito allergy (6-7).

Allergen Exposure

Allergen exposure occurs through bites and possibly via fragments in dust (1-3).
 
The family Culicidae (stinging mosquitoes), to which Aedes communis belongs, is found almost all over Europe, in North America, Asia and Japan.

Potential Cross-Reactivity

Cross-reactivity within the family Culicidae seems to be extensive, and there may be a certain degree of cross-reactivity with other families. Cross-reactivity with Anopheles (malaria) mosquito has been shown (4).

Clinical Experience

Aedes mosquito bites are now a well-known cause of IgE-mediated local reactions.
 
Respiratory allergy caused by inhalation of Aedes fragments have been reported.
 
Allergic reactions to mosquito bites are a common problem world-wide (1-3).
 
Although cutaneous reactions are seen most often, systemic reactions, including generalized urticaria and angioedema, rhinitis, conjuctivitis, and/or asthma have been reported. Anaphylactic shock following mosquito bites has also been reported (5). The frequency of sensitization following inhalation of fragments from mosquitos requires further investigation.
 
Review
Cross-reactivity within the family Culicidae seems to be extensive, and there may be a certain degree of cross-reactivity with other families. Cross-reactivity with Anopheles (malaria) mosquito has been shown (4). Aedes mosquito bites are now well known to cause IgE-mediated local reactions. The family Culicidae (stinging mosquitoes), to which Aedes communis belongs, is found almost all over Europe, in North America, Asia and Japan.

Allergic reactions to mosquito bites are a common problem world-wide (1-3).
 
Although cutaneous reactions are seen most often, systemic reactions, including generalized urticaria and angioedema, rhinitis, conjuctivitis, and/or asthma have been reported. Anaphylactic shock following mosquito bites has also been reported (5). The frequency of sensitization following inhalation of fragments from mosquitos requires further investigation.

Cutaneous reactions following mosquito bites range from immediate wheal-and-flare reactions to delayed bite papules, and it seems that these reactions start early in childhood. When mosquitoes feed, they inject saliva into the skin, which has been shown to elicit specific sensitization in man. Both IgE-mediated and T-lymphocyte-mediated mechanisms are involved in the development of mosquito allergy (6, 7). Mosquito bite-sensitive subjects frequently have circulating IgE and IgG4 antibodies to Aedes mosquito saliva proteins (7-11). A study on people living in Finnish Lapland revealed that seasonal exposure to mosquito bites leads to an increased IgE, IgG4 and IgG1 antibody response, a phenomenom similar to that occuring in, for example pollen allergy (12).

Allergens
Four proteins in the saliva of Aedes communis with molecular weights of 64, 36, 30 and 22 kD have been found to be antigenic by immunoblotting studies (10).

The most frequent binding of IgE, IgG4 and IgG1 antibodies is to the 36 kD protein (10). Most people with immediate skin reactivity to A. communis mosquito bites have both IgE and IgG4 antibodies that recognize the 36 kD and 22 kD antigen (10, 11). Response to the 36 kD antigen seem to be shared with Aedes aegypti (13). A 37 kD major antigen protein has been isolated and cloned (15) from the adult female salivary glands of Aedes aegypti. This protein seems to be shared by Aedes species distributed world-wide (14) and perhaps also with other Diptera species. Another protein, Aed a 1, a 68 kD apyrase has also been characterized as an important allergen in the saliva of Aedes aegypti (16). 

References:

    1. Gluck, JC; Pacin, MP. Asthma from mosquito bites: a case report. Ann Allergy 1986;56:492-493.
    2. Suzuki, S; Negishi, K; Tomizawa, S; Shibasaki, M; Kuroume, T. A case of mosquito allergy. Immunological studies. Acta Allergol 1976;31:428-41.
    3. Lelong, M. [Severe local reactions to mosquito bites. Apropos of 20 cases]. [French]. Allerg Immunol 1986;18:21-2. 
    4. Levine MI, Lockey RF. Monograph on insect allergy. American Academy of Allergy Committee on Insects. 1981;1986.
    5. McCormack, DR; Salata, KF; Hershey, JN, et al. Mosquito bite anaphylaxis: immunotherapy with whole body extracts. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1995;74:39-44.
    6. Reunala, T; Brummer-Korvenkontio, H; Palosuo, T. Are we really allergic to mosquito bites? Ann Med 1994;26:301-6.
    7. Peng, Z; Yang, M; Simons, E. Immunologic mechanisms in mosquito allergy: Correlation of skin reactions with specific IgE and IgG antibodies and lymphocyte proliferation response to mosquito antigens. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1996;77:238-44. 
    8. Wu, CH; Lan, JL. Immunoblot analysis of allergens in crude mosquito extracts. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1989;90:271-3.
    9. Shen, HD; Chen, CC; Chang, HN; Chang, LY; Tu, WC; Han, SH. Human IgE and IgG antibodies to mosquito proteins detected by the immunoblot technique. Ann Allergy 1989;63:143-6.
    10. Brummer-Korvenkontio, H; Lappalainen, P; Reunala, T; Palosuo, T. Detection of mosquito saliva-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies by immunoblotting. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1994;93:551-5.
    11. Reunala, T; Brummer-Korvenkontio, H; Palosuo, T; Miyanij, M; Ruiz-Maldonado, R; Love, A; Francois, G; Palosuo, T. Frequent occurrence of IgE and IgG4 antibodies against saliva of Aedes communis and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in children. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1994;104:366-71.
    12. Palosuo, K; Brummer-Korvenkontio, H; Mikkola, J; Sahi, T; Reunala, T. Seasonal increase in human IgE and IgG4 antisaliva antibodies to Aedes mosquito bites. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1997;114:367-72.
    13. Brummer-Korvenkontio, H; Palosuo, T; Francois, G; Reunala, T. Characterization of Aedes communis, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi mosquito saliva antigens by immunoblotting. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1997;112:169-74.
    14. Peng, Z; Simons, FE. Cross-reactivity of skin and serum specific IgE responses and allergen analysis for three mosquito species with worldwide distribution. J Allergy Clin Immunol;1997;100:192-8.
    15. James, AA; Blackmer, K; Marinotti, O; Ghorn, CR; Racioppi, JV. Isolation and characterization of the gene expressing the major salivary gland protein of the female mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1991;44:245-54.
    16. Xu, W; Simons, FE; Peng, Z. Expression and rapid purification of an Aedes aegypti salivary allergen by a baculovirus system. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1998;115:245-51.

2002