TY - JOUR

T1 - IgE antibodies to alpha-gal in the general adult population

T2 - relationship with tick bites, atopy, and cat ownership

AU - Gonzalez-Quintela, A

AU - Dam Laursen, A S

AU - Vidal, C

AU - Skaaby, Tea

AU - Gude, F

AU - Linneberg, A

N1 - © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - BACKGROUND: The carbohydrate alpha-gal epitope is present in many animal proteins, including those of red meat and animal immunoglobulins, such as cat IgA. Systemic anaphylaxis to the alpha-gal epitope has recently been described.OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the prevalence of alpha-gal-specific (s)IgE and its associated factors in the general adult population from two separated (Northern and Southern) European regions (Denmark and Spain, respectively).METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 2297 and 444 randomly selected adults from 11 municipalities in Denmark and one in Spain. Alpha-gal sIgE was assessed by ImmunoCAP to bovine thyroglobulin. Additional assessments included a panel of skin prick test (SPT) to common aeroallergens and epidemiological factors, including the history of tick bites in the Danish series.RESULTS: The prevalence of positive (≥ 0.1 kUA /L) sIgE to alpha-gal was 5.5% and 8.1% in the Danish and Spanish series, respectively. The prevalence of sIgE ≥ 0.35 kUA /L was 1.8% and 2.2% in Denmark and Spain, respectively. Alpha-gal sIgE positivity was associated with pet ownership in both series and, particularly, cat ownership (data available in the Danish series). Alpha-gal sIgE positivity was associated with atopy (SPT positivity) in both series, although it was not associated with SPT positivity to cat or dog dander. Alpha-gal sIgE positivity was strongly associated with a history of tick bites.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The prevalence of alpha-gal sIgE antibodies in these general adult European populations is similarly low. The presence of alpha-gal sIgE antibodies is associated with a history of tick bites, atopy, and cat ownership.

AB - BACKGROUND: The carbohydrate alpha-gal epitope is present in many animal proteins, including those of red meat and animal immunoglobulins, such as cat IgA. Systemic anaphylaxis to the alpha-gal epitope has recently been described.OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the prevalence of alpha-gal-specific (s)IgE and its associated factors in the general adult population from two separated (Northern and Southern) European regions (Denmark and Spain, respectively).METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 2297 and 444 randomly selected adults from 11 municipalities in Denmark and one in Spain. Alpha-gal sIgE was assessed by ImmunoCAP to bovine thyroglobulin. Additional assessments included a panel of skin prick test (SPT) to common aeroallergens and epidemiological factors, including the history of tick bites in the Danish series.RESULTS: The prevalence of positive (≥ 0.1 kUA /L) sIgE to alpha-gal was 5.5% and 8.1% in the Danish and Spanish series, respectively. The prevalence of sIgE ≥ 0.35 kUA /L was 1.8% and 2.2% in Denmark and Spain, respectively. Alpha-gal sIgE positivity was associated with pet ownership in both series and, particularly, cat ownership (data available in the Danish series). Alpha-gal sIgE positivity was associated with atopy (SPT positivity) in both series, although it was not associated with SPT positivity to cat or dog dander. Alpha-gal sIgE positivity was strongly associated with a history of tick bites.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The prevalence of alpha-gal sIgE antibodies in these general adult European populations is similarly low. The presence of alpha-gal sIgE antibodies is associated with a history of tick bites, atopy, and cat ownership.

KW - Animals

KW - Antibody Specificity

KW - Cats

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Humans

KW - Hypersensitivity

KW - Immunoglobulin E

KW - Population Surveillance

KW - Prevalence

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Seroepidemiologic Studies

KW - Spain

KW - Tick Bites

KW - Trisaccharides

U2 - 10.1111/cea.12326

DO - 10.1111/cea.12326

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24750173

VL - 44

SP - 1061

EP - 1068

JO - Clinical Allergy

JF - Clinical Allergy

SN - 0954-7894

IS - 8

ER -