ABSTRACT
Insect inhalant allergy is a health problem all over the world due to the cosmopolitan existence of these arthropods. The variety and distribution of insects and the accumulation of debris associated with heavy infestations vary significantly with time and geographic location. Insect inhalant allergens are found indoors, outdoors, in homes, and at the workplace. Sensitization can be due to involuntary exposure to windborne insect emanations in house dust or to occupational exposures, encountered by professionals such as research entomologists. The concept of inhalant insect allergies was developed by the early observations of Figley (1929), Parlato (1930, 1932), and Kern (1938) of asthma associated to sensitization to the mayfly, sandfly, mushroom fly, moth, and butterflies (1,2). In the animal kingdom, the phylum Arthropoda constitutes 75% of known animal species that can contribute significant organic material for airborne dispersal. Three major taxonomic groups, Insecta, Crustacea, and Arachnida, are of major concern as allergen producers. Some of the allergens from the three groups share amino acid sequence homology that manifests in allergenic cross-reactivity.
