i8 Moth

Allergens within Insects

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  • Latin name: Bombyx mori
  • Family: Bombycidae
  • Source material: Wings
Increasing evidence indicates that moths are potentially a significant source of both indoor and outdoor inhalant allergens.

Allergen Exposure

Moths are characterised by wings covered with scales, and these are suggested to be the major vectors in airborne exposure. Increasing evidence indicates that moths are potentially a significant source of both indoor and outdoor inhalant allergens (1). Occupational moth allergy has also been reported in bakers (5), in laboratory workers involved in gypsy moth research (6), and in workers in biological pest control factories engaged in the production of beneficial arthropods (7).

Potential Cross-Reactivity

Cross-reactivity between different moth species, and with other insects, has been extensively reported (1, 3-4, 8-10). Tropomyocin has been suggested as the so-called pan allergen behind this cross-reactivity (8). Species specific allergens exist (4).

Clinical Experience

In Japanese studies (2-4), patients with asthma and severe allergic rhinitis showed a prevalence of sensitization to moth (asthma 69.6%, 59%, rhinitis 46.8%) comparable to that of cedar pollen and mite, recognised as the most common sensitizers in Japan. The clinical relevance of IgE antibodies to moth was confirmed with broncho provocation tests. The authors recommend that insects should be considered as a cause of asthma. In a study from mid-western USA (1), 43% of a group of asthmatic allergic children were RAST positive to moth.
 
Review
Bombyx mori, silk worm moth, belongs to the order Lepidoptera. Moths are characterised by wings covered with scales, and these are suggested to be the major vectors in airborne exposure. Increasing evidence indicates that moths are potentially a significant source of both indoor and outdoor inhalant allergens (1).
 
In Japanese studies (2, 3, 4), patients with asthma and severe allergic rhinitis showed a prevalence of sensitisation to moth (asthma 69.6%, 59%, rhinitis 46.8%) comparable to that of cedar pollen and mite, recognised as the most common sensitisers in Japan. The clinical relevance of IgE antibodies to moth was confirmed with broncho provocation tests.

The authors recommend that insects should be considered as a cause of asthma.
 
In a study from mid-western USA (1), 43% of a group of asthmatic allergic children were RAST positive to moth. Occupational moth allergy has also been reported in bakers (5), in laboratory workers involved in gypsy moth research (6), and in workers in biological pest control factories engaged in the production of beneficial arthropods (7). Cross-reactivity between different moth species, and with other insects, has been extensively reported (1, 3-4, 8-10).

Tropomyocin has been suggested as the so-called pan allergen behind this cross-reactivity (8). Species specific allergens exist (4). 

References:

    1. Lierl MB, Riordan MM, Fischer TJ. Prevalence of insect allergen-specific IgE in allergic asthmatic children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Annals of Allergy 1994;72(1):45-50.
    2. Kino T, Chihara J, Fukuda K, Sasaki Y, Shogaki Y, Oshima S. Allergy to insects in Japan. III. High frequency of IgE antibody responses to insects (moth, butterfly, caddis fly, and chironomid) in patients with bronchial asthma and immunochemical quantitation of the insect-related airborne particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 1987;79(6):857-66.
    3. Kitao S, Ito H, Ito M, Suzuki M, Takagi I, Baba S, et al. Moth-related antigens contained in the house dust of the Japanese house. Acta Oto-Laryngologica - Supplement 1996;525:90-2.
    4. Komase Y, Sakata M, Azuma T, Tanaka A, Nakagawa T. IgE antibodies against midge and moth found in Japanese asthmatic subjects and comparison of allergenicity between these insects. Allergy 1997;52(1):75-81.
    5. Bataille A, Anton M, Mollat F, Bobe M, Bonneau C, Caramaniam MN, et al. [Respiratory allergies among symptomatic bakers and pastry cooks: initial results of a prevalence study]. Allergie et Immunologie 1995;27(1):7-10.
    6. Etkind PH, Odell TM, Canada AT, Shama SK, Finn AM, Tuthill R. The gypsy moth caterpillar: a significant new occupational and public health problem. Journal of Occupational Medicine 1982;24(9):659-62.
    7. Lugo G, Cipolla C, Bonfiglioli R, Sassi C, Maini S, Cancellieri MP, et al. A new risk of occupational disease: allergic asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis in persons working with beneficial arthropods. Preliminary data. International Archives of Occupational & Environmental Health 1994;65(5):291-4.
    8. Martinez A, Martinez J, Palacios R, Panzani R. Importance of tropomyosin in the allergy to household arthropods. Cross-reactivity with other invertebrate extracts. Allergologia et Immunopathologia 1997;25(3):118-26.
    9. Wynn SR, Swanson MC, Reed CE, Penny ND, Showers WB, Smith JM. Immunochemical quantitation, size distribution, and cross-reactivity of lepidoptera (moth) aeroallergens in southeastern Minnesota. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 1988;82(1):47-54.
    10. Baldo BA, Panzani RC. Detection of IgE antibodies to a wide range of insect species in subjects with suspected inhalant allergies to insects. International Archives of Allergy & Applied Immunology 1988;85(3):278-87.

2000