Clam
Clam Scientific Information
Type: Whole Allergen
Display Name: Clam
Allergen code: f207
Family: Veneridae
Latin Name: Clam
Other Names: Clam
Route Of Exposure
Cooked, often in sauces
Clinical Relevance
Occupational asthma and food allergy caused by clam have been reported.
Other Topics
The Manilla clam, also referred to as littleneck clam or carpet shell, is a hard shell clam cultivated on a very large scale in, for example, Japan, and then frozen whole and exported widely. It is commonly used around the world, for instance, in clam sauce for pasta or just steamed. This clam is closely related to quahogs and cockles and cross-reactivity to other bivalves cannot be excluded.
Occupational asthma and food allergy caused by clam have been reported.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity with other bivalves cannot be excluded. A study by Eriksson et al. demonstrated cross-reactivity between clam, krill and oyster.
References
- Desjardins A, Malo JL, L'Archeveque J, Cartier A, Mccants M, Lehrer SB.Occupational IgE-mediated sensitization and asthma caused by clam and shrimp. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96;608-17.
- Castillo R, Carrilo T, Blanco C, Quiralte J, Cuevas M. Shellfish hypersensitivity:clinical and immunological characteristics. Allergol Immunopathol Madr 1994;22:83-7.
- Eriksson NE, Ryden B, Jonsson P. Hypersensitivity to larvae of chironomids (non-biting midges). Allergy 1989;44:305-13.