SHRIMP allergy is becoming an increasingly recognised health concern in Tunisia, driven by changing dietary habits and rising seafood consumption. A new study conducted at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis has provided the first detailed insight into the clinical characteristics of shrimp-allergic patients in the region and their sensitisation profiles.
Researchers analysed 31 individuals with self-reported shrimp allergy, primarily adolescents and young adults, using ImmunoCAP® tests to detect total and specific IgE antibodies. Of the participants, 54.8% were confirmed shrimp-allergic. The most frequent symptoms were oropharyngeal itching and urticaria, though 17.6% experienced life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Importantly, over half of the shrimp-allergic patients also showed sensitisation to snails and house dust mites (HDMs), indicating a high level of cross-reactivity. Tropomyosin, a muscle protein found in shrimp, snails, and HDMs, was identified as the key allergen driving this overlap. A significant number tested positive for recombinant tropomyosin allergens rPen a1 (shrimp) and rDer p10 (HDMs), with strong correlations between their IgE levels.
This cross-reactivity underscores the importance of component-resolved diagnostics in allergy assessment. Some patients with severe reactions tested negative for rPen a1 and rDer p10, suggesting the presence of other allergenic proteins, such as Pen m2 or Pen m4, which were not assessed in this study.
Notably, 58.8% of shrimp-allergic patients also had allergic rhinitis, and 11.7% had asthma, highlighting a strong link between food allergies and respiratory conditions. The findings suggest that allergic multimorbidity, especially in humid environments, may increase the risk of severe reactions.
While this study provides essential data for clinical practice in Tunisia, its small sample size limits broader conclusions. Nevertheless, it reinforces the need for improved diagnostic tools and public awareness, particularly as changing food trends expose more individuals to shellfish allergens. Further large-scale, prospective studies are needed to map the evolving epidemiology of shrimp allergy and its associated risks.
Reference
Krir D et al. A deep dive into shrimp allergy: clinical spectrum of shrimp allergy in a Tunisian pilot study. Front Allergy. 2025;6:1568475.
