Prospective Study About Sensitization Pattern to Insects as Food Source in Patients With House Dust Mite Allergy (InFood)

A Prospective Study About the Sensitization Patterns to Insects as Food Source in Patients With House Dust Mite Allergy Based on Clinical History, Skin Prick Tests and in Vitro Tests

Patients allergic to seafood and/or sensitized to Tropomyosin of Skin Prick tests SPT or crustacean origin will may be also be sensitized to edible insects. Aim of the study is to evaluate whether patients allergic to seafood and/or sensitized to Tropomyosin of SPT or crustacean origin may be more often be sensitized to edible insects used as food source.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypersensitivity, Food
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Skin prick test

Detailed Description

House dust mite allergy is a common problem in Europe. In addition to inhalant allergies sensitization to mites can be related to food allergy namely seafood. Insects are also widespread food sources in many regions of the world.

In this study skin testing and laboratory tests are planned in patients with known house dust mite allergy to evaluate a possible sensitization to insects. Patients must also complete a questionnaire. A drug therapy or other intervention is not planned.

Aim of the study is to evaluate whether patients allergic to seafood and/or sensitized to Tropomyosin of SPT or crustacean origin may be more often be sensitized to edible insects used as food source.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 96
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Canton of Zurich
    • Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, 8091
      • Allergy Unit,University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18 < x < 70
• House dust mite sensitization with or without sensitization to seafood
• Subject is capable of giving informed consent
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of antihistamines, systemic corticosteroids during testing and within three days (antihistamines) or two weeks (corticosteroids) prior to testing
• Use of immunosuppressive agents
• History of cancer except for treated basal cell or spinal cell carcinoma of the skin
• Active or recurrent bacterial, fungal or viral infection at the time of enrollment, including patients with evidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infection, active or untreated latent tuberculosis.
• Female patients of childbearing potential who are pregnant or breast feeding or planning a pregnancy during the duration of the trial and/or not practicing acceptable birth control for the duration of the trial
• Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse,
• Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant,
• Previous enrollment into the current study,
• Enrollment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons,

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: All Patients; It is a single arm study. Skin prick testing and laboratory Tests are carried out on all patients in the same way	Other: Skin prick test; a Skin prick test is planned in all patients

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Presence/absence of insect sensitization among seafood/Tropomyosin-sensitized patients versus patients with house dust mite sensitization alone	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sensitization pattern in insect sensitized patients in comparison between seafood-sensitized versus non-seafood-sensitized patients	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week
Sensitization pattern in seafood sensitizes patients in comparison between insect-sensitized versus non-insect-sensitized patients	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week
Sensitization pattern in insect sensitized patients in comparison between resident and immigrant populations in Switzerland	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week
Sensitization pattern in seafood sensitized patients in comparison between resident and immigrant populations in Switzerland	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week
Frequency of sensitization to the various insect allergens	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week
Description of possible cross reactions between seafood and insect allergens	Sensitization (+/-)	1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Zurich
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Peter Schmid, MD, Universitatsspital Zurich

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 21, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): October 21, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 6, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): January 23, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Food Hypersensitivity; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Immunologic Techniques; Immunologic Tests; Skin Tests; Patch Tests
• Other Study ID Numbers: InFood2020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No