Insects as inhalant allergens: Consideration of aerobiology, biochemistry, preparation of material, and clinical observations

Abstract

1. 1. Insects as inhalant allergens fulfill the postulates set down for pollinating plants causing hay fever and asthma. 2. 2. The nature of the insect allergens is not well understood; nor is there sufficient evidence to place the specificity at the level of species or higher in the table of classification. 3. 3. The known protein chemistry of the insect cuticle is reviewed as it might be related to insect allergens and includes specific comments on chitin, arthropodin, and silk. 4. 4. Insect materials for our studies were obtained by field and light trap “catches” and by breeding in the laboratory. 5. 5. Handling of insect material is described, and the need for prompt processing or quick freezing is discussed. 6. 6. The method of preparation of insect allergens at first varied greatly, but a standardized technique was established and is described in detail. 7. 7. Clinical studies are tabulated on 252 consecutive unselected patients in relation to age, sex, race, geographic distribution, occupation, clinical diagnosis, and sensitivity to other inhalant allergens. 8. 8. Treatment with insect allergens received only few brief comments, since it is too early to draw any conclusions on results.