Abstract
Summary Cockroaches (CRs) are major indoor allergens that can pose a serious risk for respiratory allergies in sensitized subjects. Recent evidence suggests that CR allergens cross-react with allergens present in insect and other invertebrates. IgE antibodies of insect-allergic subjects were shown to react with silverfish, CR and chironomid extracts. Cross-reactivity between house dust mites, silverfish, CR and chironomids and between cockroach and the reduviid, German CR and chironomids, and CRs crustacea species was established by RAST inhibition. There is some evidence that CR cross-reacts with the nematodes Anisakis and Ascaris. No cross-reactivity has been demonstrated between CR and mammalian allergens. The protein implicated in the cross-reactivity of CR with invertebrate allergens is tropomyosin. Tropomyosin has been identified as a major allergen in shrimp and other crustacea, CR, dust mites, and squid ; these tropomyosins show substantial amino acid homology as well as immunological cross-reactivity. Clinical relevance of these cross-reactivities is suggested.
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