www.karger.com Original Paper Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2010;152:58–65 DOI: 10.1159/000260084 Occupational Allergy in Strawberry Greenhouse Workers

tests in all 3 employees with work-related symptoms. ELISA and immunoblotting with strawberry pollen showed posi-tive results in 2 employees. Birch and grass pollen failed to inhibit IgE binding to strawberry pollen in 1 of 2 employees. Partial inhibition was seen in the second employee. Nasal provocation validated clinically relevant allergy to these pol-lens in 2 of 3 subjects. Conclusions: Allergic symptoms at-tributable to the workplace are present among a proportion of strawberry greenhouse employees. An IgE-mediated oc-cupational allergy to strawberry pollen may contribute to these symptoms. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Base