Eur J Dermatol 2013; 23(6): 767-73
Review Catherine PECQUET Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Tenon Hospital, AP-HP 4 rue de la Chine 75970 Paris cedex
Copyright © 2017 John Libbey Eurotext. Téléchargé par NYU LANGONE MED CTR SCH OF MED HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY le 13/02/2017.
Reprints: C. Pecquet Article accepted on 8/08/2013
Allergic reactions to insect secretions Some products derived from insects can induce allergic reactions. The main characteristics of some products from honeybees, cochineal and silkworms are summarised here. We review allergic reactions from honey-derived products (propolis, wax, royal jelly), from cochineal products (shellac and carmine) and from silk : clinical features, allergological investigations and allergens if they are known. Key words: Allergy, insect secretions
I
nsects are characterised by a segmented body, three pairs of jointed legs, a hard exoskeleton and two pairs of wings, although some have lost one or both, depending on the species. Over a million species have already been described. Some are disease vectors, others cause vesicant, venomous or itchy reactions after contact, sting, bite or inhalation, in addition to allergic reactions. Nonetheless, the positive roles of insects should not be overlooked: they pollinate plants, are a source of proteins, play a role in the balance of nature and produce secretions and products which are widely used in the food and cosmetic industries, or have other applications. Some of those products derived from insects can be a source of allergic reactions. We shall study allergic reactions to products derived from domestic bees (Apis mellifica) (honey, wax, propolis, royal jelly. . .), aphids (carmine and shellac) and silkworms.
Products derived from bees
- carbohydrates (95 to 99% of the dry matter): fructose, glucose, maltose, raffinose. . . - various proteins and peptides coming, though not exclusively, from bee secretions (enzymes such as invertase, for instance) and pollens (
Review Catherine PECQUET Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Tenon Hospital, AP-HP 4 rue de la Chine 75970 Paris cedex
Copyright © 2017 John Libbey Eurotext. Téléchargé par NYU LANGONE MED CTR SCH OF MED HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY le 13/02/2017.
Reprints: C. Pecquet Article accepted on 8/08/2013
Allergic reactions to insect secretions Some products derived from insects can induce allergic reactions. The main characteristics of some products from honeybees, cochineal and silkworms are summarised here. We review allergic reactions from honey-derived products (propolis, wax, royal jelly), from cochineal products (shellac and carmine) and from silk : clinical features, allergological investigations and allergens if they are known. Key words: Allergy, insect secretions
I
nsects are characterised by a segmented body, three pairs of jointed legs, a hard exoskeleton and two pairs of wings, although some have lost one or both, depending on the species. Over a million species have already been described. Some are disease vectors, others cause vesicant, venomous or itchy reactions after contact, sting, bite or inhalation, in addition to allergic reactions. Nonetheless, the positive roles of insects should not be overlooked: they pollinate plants, are a source of proteins, play a role in the balance of nature and produce secretions and products which are widely used in the food and cosmetic industries, or have other applications. Some of those products derived from insects can be a source of allergic reactions. We shall study allergic reactions to products derived from domestic bees (Apis mellifica) (honey, wax, propolis, royal jelly. . .), aphids (carmine and shellac) and silkworms.
Products derived from bees
- carbohydrates (95 to 99% of the dry matter): fructose, glucose, maltose, raffinose. . . - various proteins and peptides coming, though not exclusively, from bee secretions (enzymes such as invertase, for instance) and pollens (
