Z Peng1, F E Simons. 1. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to mosquito bites are a common problem worldwide. Cross-reactive immunologic responses have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: For the three most common mosquito species, Aedes (Ae.) vexans, Ae. aegypti, and Culex (Cx.) quinquefaciatus, we investigated skin and serum specific IgE responses and analyzed salivary allergens. METHODS: Locally, Ae. vexans is a major pest, but Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefaciatus are not found. We studied 41 subjects living in Manitoba, using (1) skin bite tests, (2) ELISA to measure serum mosquito saliva- or salivary gland-specific IgE, (3) ELISA inhibition tests, and (4) sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the 41 subjects had skin reactions to Ae. vexans bites. Twenty-two of the 29 also reacted to Ae. aegypti bites. Mean serum mosquito-IgE levels to each of the three species were significantly higher in the reactive subjects than in the nonreactive subjects. Significant intercorrelations were found among skin reactions and mosquito-specific IgE levels for the three species. The Ae. aegypti-IgE ELISA reaction could be inhibited by addition of each mosquito extract. The serum IgE and IgG from Manitobans reacted with the antigens of all three species. A 37 kd allergen in each of the three species was recognized by the antibody against a recombinant Ae. aegypti saliva protein. CONCLUSIONS: Strong cross-reactive skin and IgE responses and species-shared antigens exist among the three mosquito species studied.
BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to mosquito bites are a common problem worldwide. Cross-reactive immunologic responses have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: For the three most common mosquito species, Aedes (Ae.) vexans, Ae. aegypti, and Culex (Cx.) quinquefaciatus, we investigated skin and serum specific IgE responses and analyzed salivary allergens. METHODS: Locally, Ae. vexans is a major pest, but Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefaciatus are not found. We studied 41 subjects living in Manitoba, using (1) skin bite tests, (2) ELISA to measure serum mosquito saliva- or salivary gland-specific IgE, (3) ELISA inhibition tests, and (4) sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the 41 subjects had skin reactions to Ae. vexans bites. Twenty-two of the 29 also reacted to Ae. aegypti bites. Mean serum mosquito-IgE levels to each of the three species were significantly higher in the reactive subjects than in the nonreactive subjects. Significant intercorrelations were found among skin reactions and mosquito-specific IgE levels for the three species. The Ae. aegypti-IgE ELISA reaction could be inhibited by addition of each mosquito extract. The serum IgE and IgG from Manitobans reacted with the antigens of all three species. A 37 kd allergen in each of the three species was recognized by the antibody against a recombinant Ae. aegypti saliva protein. CONCLUSIONS: Strong cross-reactive skin and IgE responses and species-shared antigens exist among the three mosquito species studied.
Authors: Bi Zamble H Zamble; Serge S Yao; Akré M Adja; Mahfoud Bakli; Dounin D Zoh; Françoise Mathieu-Daudé; Serge B Assi; Franck Remoue; Lionel Almeras; Anne Poinsignon Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2021-12-13
Authors: Y Belkaid; S Kamhawi; G Modi; J Valenzuela; N Noben-Trauth; E Rowton; J Ribeiro; D L Sacks Journal: J Exp Med Date: 1998-11-16 Impact factor: 14.307