Identification of alpha livetin as a cross reacting allergen in a bird-egg syndrome

We report the case of an atopic female patient who developed egg allergy symptoms after acquiring a parrot. Previously, she never had any egg allergy. Skin tests were positive to egg yolk, egg white, livetin, and mixed feathers. High levels of specific IgE were found for egg yolk, egg white, livetin, hen 2 serum proteins, and feathers. Western blotting showed a binding of IgE antibodies to a 66 Kd band in hen serum, livetin and feathers. We conclude that sensitization to avian proteins could induce egg allergy and that livetin is an important allergen in this cross-reactivity.