Anisakis and allergy risk in workers of the fishing industry
ANISAKIS AND ALLERGY RISK IN WORKERS OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY
Background. Exposure to biological agents (microorganisms, cell cultures and endoparasites) can cause diseases of infectious, allergic, toxic and carcinogenic nature. The allergy risk of biological origin may be present in many work environments, even if it is often underestimated and undervalued. Among the agents able to create awareness, the parasitic nematodes of the genus Anisakis have been recognized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The problem of allergy to Anisakis in the seafood business sector is considered an emerging risk and risk knowledge by operators of potentially exposed business sector is poor, as well as the application of practices / prevention and protection procedures in the workplace for risk management.
Objective. This project starts from the lack of knowledge on the Anisakis-driven allergy phenomenon in workers and from the insufficient reliability of the immunological screening methods so far available. The general objective of the project is the use of a multidisciplinary approach, starting from administration of clinical-cognitive-anamnestic questionnaires to the subjects recruited up to the study of potentially allergenic molecules.
Expected (or preliminary) results. The study will contribute to improve the identification, knowledge and quantification of occupational allergy of parasitic origin within workers in fisheries; it is aimed to propose an operational protocol of assessment/monitoring and knowledge of the biological hazard that can cause work-related allergic diseases and disorders among workers in the fishing industry; it will improve the knowledge of experts in the risk management and help to develop “best practices” for workplace prevention. The preventive part will be coupled with an experimental content concerning the systematic study of the allergenic potential of the molecules available in the reference database. These will be used to develop ad hoc serological tests to be used on sera from allergic, exposed and unexposed subject.
Future perspectives. The results could help to develop health strategies for the protection of workers by policy makers and experts. Furthermore, the screening of potentially useful molecules to highlight exposure to Anisakis antigens could contribute to the development of early-warning innovative methods in order to improve the diagnostic and clinical management of parasitic allergies with the broader and more ambitious aim of providing tools for the differential diagnosis between food-borne and parasitic allergies.