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Case Report

Airborne exposure-induced occupational type I allergy to Tenebrio molitor: Case report and studies on immunological reactivity

Laura Weißenborn, Sabine Kespohl, Silke Maryska, Ingrid Sander, Jakob Bickhardt, Thomas Henle, and Monika Raulf

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Volume 9 (2025) p. 66 - 74

Abstract

Allergologie select, Vol. 9/2025 (66-74)

Airborne exposure-induced occupational type I allergy to Tenebrio molitor: Case report and studies on immunological reactivity

Laura Weißenborn¹, Sabine Kespohl², Silke Maryska², Ingrid Sander², Jakob Bickhardt³, Thomas Henle¹, and Monika Raulf²

¹Chair of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, ²Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, and ³Pulmonary Specialist Practice and Training Center, Dresden, Germany
This occupational case report describes a 28-year-old woman, employed since November 2020 as a research assistant working with mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), who developed symptoms of mild shortness of breath and severe redness and swelling of the eyes in early 2022, leading to the diagnosis of occupational allergic asthma due to respiratory sensitization to mealworm. Subsequent tests confirmed mono-sensitization to T. molitor and additional cross-sensitization to flour beetle (Tribolium confusum). Further studies aimed to determine the antigenic and allergenic potency of different protein fractions and rearing material isolated from T. molitor regarding protein pattern and immunological activity by T. molitor-specific polyclonal rabbit IgG and human IgE. The highest antigen content of T. molitor was measured in the rearing material, followed by mealworm flour and aqueous extraction. Allergenic proteins are particularly detected in mealworm flour and aqueous fraction at molecular weights of 24 and 11 kDa, which appear to be specific for primary airway sensitization. In addition, the airborne T. molitor antigen levels in the workplace were monitored using electrostatic dust collectors to identify hotspots of exposure. The disposal of dry insect material was shown to be responsible for the unintentional release of potential allergens. Therefore, awareness of the potential risk of a type I allergy due to the release of airborne insect allergens in the workplace should be raised.Correspondence to:
Laura Weißenborn, Technische Universität Dresden, Professur für Lebensmittelchemie, Bergstraße 66, 01062 Dresden, Germany
Email: [email protected]

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