Screening of Anisakis-Related Allergies and Associated Factors in a Mediterranean Community Characterized by High Seafood Consumption
Santo Fruscione,
Maria Barrale,
Maurizio Zarcone,
Davide Alba,
Barbara Ravazzolo,
Miriam Belluzzo,
Rosa Onida,
Gaetano Cammilleri,
Antonella Costa,
Vincenzo Ferrantelli,
Alessandra Savatteri,
Daniele Domenico De Bella,
Salvatore Pipitone,
Alida D’Atria,
Alessia Pieri,
Fabio Tramuto,
Claudio Costantino,
Carmelo Massimo Maida,
Giorgio Graziano,
Marialetizia Palomba,
Simonetta Mattiucci,
Ignazio Brusca,
Walter Mazzucco
Affiliations
Santo Fruscione
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Maria Barrale
U.O.C. of Clinical Pathology Buccheri La Ferla Hospital FBF, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Maurizio Zarcone
U.O.C. Epidemiologia Clinica con Registro Tumori, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Davide Alba
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Barbara Ravazzolo
U.O.C. Epidemiologia Clinica con Registro Tumori, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Miriam Belluzzo
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Rosa Onida
U.O.C. of Clinical Pathology Buccheri La Ferla Hospital FBF, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Gaetano Cammilleri
Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily, 90129 Palermo, Italy
Antonella Costa
Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily, 90129 Palermo, Italy
Vincenzo Ferrantelli
Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily, 90129 Palermo, Italy
Alessandra Savatteri
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Daniele Domenico De Bella
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Salvatore Pipitone
U.O.C. Epidemiologia Clinica con Registro Tumori, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Alida D’Atria
U.O.C. Epidemiologia Clinica con Registro Tumori, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Alessia Pieri
U.O.C. Epidemiologia Clinica con Registro Tumori, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Fabio Tramuto
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Claudio Costantino
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Carmelo Massimo Maida
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Giorgio Graziano
U.O.C. Epidemiologia Clinica con Registro Tumori, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Marialetizia Palomba
Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Simonetta Mattiucci
Section of Parasitology, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital “Policlinico Umberto I”, Sapienza-University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Ignazio Brusca
U.O.C. of Clinical Pathology Buccheri La Ferla Hospital FBF, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Walter Mazzucco
PROMISE Department, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Dietary changes expose consumers to risks from Anisakis larvae in seafood, leading to parasitic diseases and allergies. Anisakis is recognized by EFSA as a significant hazard, with potential oncogenic implications. Diagnostic advancements, like the Basophil Activation Test (BAT), enhance sensitivity and accuracy in identifying Anisakis sensitization, complementing traditional IgE tests. We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients with allergic symptoms from April 2021 to April 2023 at two outpatient clinics in western Sicily. Our goal was to assess the prevalence of Anisakis-related allergies and to identify risk profiles using specific Anisakis IgE and the BAT, especially in regions with high raw fish consumption. The study evaluated specific Anisakis IgE as a screening tool for Anisakis sensitization, using questionnaires, blood samples, and immuno-allergology analyses. Anisakis-specific IgE values were compared with the BAT results, with statistical analyses including Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression. The results showed an 18.5% seroprevalence of Anisakis IgE, while the BAT as a second-level test showed 4.63%, indicating the BAT’s superior specificity and accuracy. The study highlighted the importance of the BAT in diagnosing Anisakis sensitization, especially in cases of cross-reactivity with Ascaris and tropomyosin. The findings confirm the BAT’s exceptional specificity in identifying Anisakis sensitization and support using Anisakis-specific IgE for population-based risk profiling. The BAT can effectively serve as a confirmatory test.
