Allergy and parasites reevaluated: wide-scale induction of chronic urticaria by the ubiquitous fish-nematode Anisakis simplex in an endemic region

Abstract

Our results indicate that A. simplex is a possibly widespread etiologic agent able to induce CU. This parasite model constitutes the first report that associates an infectious agent with CU on a large scale. The detection of IgG4 antibodies reflects a previous acute parasitic infection and a temporary diet without fish improves symptoms in most patients with detectable specific IgG4.