Studies of Hypersensitivity to Fish

Abstract

A simple method for the preparation of reference allergen extracts from fish to be used in subsequent studies is described. Some aspects of protein content estimation used in characterization of fish extracts are discussed. With the use of rabbit antisera to the reference extracts, fish tissue juice and fish blood serum a reference system is established for the immunological characterization of extracts from cod and salmon. By varying the extraction procedures, extracts are obtained with considerable differences as regards protein content and immunological characteristics. The extracts obtained are satisfactorily constant with respect to protein content and immunological characteristics as well as to biological activity when used in scratch tests on fish hypersensitive individuals.