Abstract

Angel San Miguel*, Alicia Armentia, Maria San Miguel, Blanca Martín, Adrián Rodríguez, Sara Martín, Víctor Moreno-González, Fernando Pineda6 and Miriam Castillo

ABSTRACT

Background: There are few reports on allergy to camels. Camel milk has been used to treat cow's milk allergy in Israelite and Saharawi children and might be an alternative to ruminant milk, since camels are not ruminants but tylopods, and the milk composition could differ. Objective: To assess the allergic response to camel milk in all patients with hypersensitivity to cow's milk treated in 2021 by the Rio Hortega Hospital allergy clinic. Methods: Samples of milk from Canary Islands dromedaries and hair from bactrians, dromedaries and llamas were obtained. In vivo (prick, provocation with cow and dromedary milk) and in vitro (ImmunoCAP, CRD, SDS_PAGE, immunodetection) tests were carried out in patients and controls after informed consent. Results: During 2021, 1479 patients presented proven food hypersensitivity. Of these, 68 (4.6%) had severe symptoms related to cow milk ingestion, principally young males and children. Patients with cow's milk allergy and eosinophilic esophagitis had significantly more positive in vitro and provocation tests and immunodetection showed a protein in cow's milk of about 18 kDa, compatible with beta-lactoglobulin, that was not recognized in dromedary milk by any patient. However, it was positive in three out of 135 patients who accepted provocation with dromedary milk. The remaining patients tolerated camel milk without serious reactions. Conclusion: Dromedary milk was better tolerated than cow's milk, especially in patients sensitized to beta-lactoglobulin. These results provide useful information for patients allergic to cow's milk and could have direct future clinical and industrial applications.