Fish roe allergy

Abstract

Fish roe is an important allergen in Japan, with immediate-type symptoms often occurring in children aged 1-6 years. Salmon roe allergy accounts for about 95% of all cases, with only a few reports of pollock roe allergy and capelin roe allergy. The β'-component of vitellogenin, a precursor of egg yolk protein, is considered the major allergen in fish roes. It has been reported that specific IgE antibody levels can predict salmon roe allergy, and thus predict a positive result in an oral food challenge test. On the other hand, it has been reported that the ratio of pollock roe-specific IgE antibody titer to salmon roe-specific IgE antibody titer is useful in predicting positivity for pollock roe allergy. Research on fish roe allergies other than salmon and pollock is extremely limited, and there have been few studies on capelin roes, which are often served in school lunches in Japan. Recently, there have been some reports of caviar allergies reported overseas, suggesting that there may be regional differences in intake status. Studies on fish roe allergy are generally lacking, and further research is required on the topic in the future.