| Title: | Seasonal inhalant insect allergy: Harmonia axyridis ladybug |
| Address: | "Exemplar Allergy & Asthma, 1063 Maple Drive, Suite 1A, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. dwgoetz@pol.net" |
| Journal Title: | Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol |
| DOI: | 10.1097/ACI.0b013e32832d5173 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1473-6322 (Electronic) 1473-6322 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The exotic Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, has become a prominent cause of seasonal inhalant allergy (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and urticaria) in the last two decades in North America and Europe after being introduced into the environment as an agricultural pest-control predator. RECENT FINDINGS: Seeking winter hibernation sites, ladybug swarms will invade human habitats in the fall. Large fall swarms and smaller spring dispersions produce corresponding peaks in ladybug allergy. Ladybug allergy prevalence in endemic areas has been reported as high as 10%. For some individuals ladybug allergy is their first expression of allergic disease. Exposures at home, work, school, and in other settings may be sensitizing. Ladybug hemolymph is the primary source of allergens. Har a 1 and Har a 2 major ladybug allergens have been characterized. 'Reflex bleeding' from tibiofemoral joints (for communication and during alarm) disperses these allergens. SUMMARY: Ladybug skin testing should be routine in endemic areas. Avoidance continues to be the first step in treatment. Allergen vaccine therapy may be effective, but a commercial extract of H. axyridis is needed" |
| Keywords: | "Agricultural Workers' Diseases/epidemiology/*immunology Allergens/*immunology Animals Antigens, Plant Asia Coleoptera/*immunology Europe Humans Incidence Inhalation Insect Proteins/*immunology Life Cycle Stages/immunology North America Pest Control Rhinit;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineGoetz, David W eng Review 2009/06/10 Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Aug; 9(4):329-33. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e32832d5173" |
