Detection of IgE antibodies to larvae and adults of chironomids by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Using the ELISA method, IgE antibodies to chironomid midges; Tokunagayusurika akamusi larva (TAL), T. akamusi adult (TAA), Chironomus yoshimatsui larva (CYL), C. yoshimatsui adult (CYA) and Chironomus plumosus adult (CPA), were measured in the sera of 36 children with bronchial asthma who visited Tamano City Hospital near Lake Kojiima in the Okayama prefecture. IgE antibodies to adult midges (TAA, CYA and CPA) were widely detected, but only few IgE antibodies to larvae (TAL and CYL). The amount of IgE antibody to CYA and to CPA correlated (P less than 0.001), but the amount of IgE antibody to TAA and to CYA or CPA did not. This suggests that the allergenicity of CYA and CPA is similar, but the allergenicity of TAA is independent of that of CYA or CPA. On the other hand, the ELISA inhibition test showed that TAA allergenicity was independent of that of TAL, CYL, CYA, CPA and the house-dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae (Df). The inhibition test also showed that CYA and CPA had similar allergenicity, but differed from TAL, TAA, CYL and Df. This indicates that the allergenicities of chironomid midges change during the metamorphosis from larva to adult, and are not common among all species.