Dogger Bank itch
Encyclopedia
Dogger Bank itch is a cutaneous
condition characterized by an eczema
tous dermatitis
caused by exposure to the sea chervil, Alcyonidium diaphanum
, a seaweed-like animal colony. The disease, common in fishermen who work in the North Sea
, has been recognized by the Danish Workman's Compensation Act since 1939.
disappeared after leaving the area, it reappeared with greater severity when he returned to the area and performed the same activities; this time the rash spread to his neck and face, and continued to ooze serum
for two months.
phylum, which consists of minute, sessile
, filter-feeding animals that live in colonies. A. diaphanum is a gelatinous, smooth, sponge-like colony up to 15–30 cm long, growing on rocks and shells from lower shore down to approximately 100 m; superficially, they resemble seaweed. The distribution of this animal is from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.
The disease is especially prevalent among trawlermen working in the Dogger Bank
, an important fishing bank in the North Sea
. It has also been reported in from the Baie de la Seine
in France.
is caused by a type of cell-mediated hypersensitivity
reaction; this type of hypersensitivity normally occurs in people who become sensitized while handling chemicals or repeatedly come into contact with other low-weight molecular weight substances. Although in some instances several years may be required to develop sensitivity, this time period may vary greatly depending on the individual. With Dogger Bank itch, sensitivity is acquired after repeated handling of A. hirsutum that becomes entangled in the fishing nets.
The specific allergen
responsible for the Dogger Bank itch was determined to be the chemical (2-hydroxyethyl) dimethylsulfoxonium ion. This compound, also isolated from the marine sponge Theonella aff. mirabilis, has potent cytotoxic activity against P388 leukemia
cells.
. In these two cases, initial treatments with oral prednisolone
and topical steroid
s were ineffective.
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
condition characterized by an eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
tous dermatitis
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
caused by exposure to the sea chervil, Alcyonidium diaphanum
Alcyonidium diaphanum
Alcyonidium diaphanum is a species of bryozoan found in the North Atlantic. It is known as "Sea-chervil", when it is found washed on the shore....
, a seaweed-like animal colony. The disease, common in fishermen who work in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, has been recognized by the Danish Workman's Compensation Act since 1939.
Historical aspects
A medical case reported in 1957 tells of a fishing captain who worked in the Dogger Bank in the North Sea. The sea chervil, abundant in the area, frequently came up with the fishing nets and had to be thrown back into the water. After doing this repeatedly, the captain "developed an itching red eruption on the flexor aspects of the elbows and forearms which became moist, oozed serum, and spread to involve the backs of the hands, fingers and most of the arms within a few days." Although the rashRash
A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and...
disappeared after leaving the area, it reappeared with greater severity when he returned to the area and performed the same activities; this time the rash spread to his neck and face, and continued to ooze serum
Blood plasma
Blood plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid...
for two months.
Epidemiology
The causative agent, A. diaphanum (older synonyms include A. gelatinosum), is a member of the BryozoaBryozoa
The Bryozoa, also known as Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals, are a phylum of aquatic invertebrate animals. Typically about long, they are filter feeders that sieve food particles out of the water using a retractable lophophore, a "crown" of tentacles lined with cilia...
phylum, which consists of minute, sessile
Sessility (limnology)
In limnology, sessility is that quality of an organism which rests unsupported directly on a base, either attached or unattached to a substrate. It is a characteristic of vegetation which is anchored to the benthic environment. There are two families of sessile rotifers: Flosculariidae and...
, filter-feeding animals that live in colonies. A. diaphanum is a gelatinous, smooth, sponge-like colony up to 15–30 cm long, growing on rocks and shells from lower shore down to approximately 100 m; superficially, they resemble seaweed. The distribution of this animal is from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.
The disease is especially prevalent among trawlermen working in the Dogger Bank
Dogger Bank
Dogger Bank is a large sandbank in a shallow area of the North Sea about off the east coast of England. It extends over approximately , with its dimensions being about long and up to broad. The water depth ranges from 15 to 36 metres , about shallower than the surrounding sea. It is a...
, an important fishing bank in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. It has also been reported in from the Baie de la Seine
Baie de la Seine
The Baie de la Seine or Baie de Seine is a bay in northern France.-Geography:It is a wide, rectangular inlet of the English Channel, approximately 100 kilometres by 45 kilometres, bounded in the west by the Cotentin Peninsula, in the south by the Normandy coast and in the east by the estuary of...
in France.
Etiology and pathogenesis
The rashRash
A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and...
is caused by a type of cell-mediated hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity refers to undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity. These reactions may be damaging, uncomfortable, or occasionally fatal. Hypersensitivity reactions require a pre-sensitized state of the host. The four-group classification...
reaction; this type of hypersensitivity normally occurs in people who become sensitized while handling chemicals or repeatedly come into contact with other low-weight molecular weight substances. Although in some instances several years may be required to develop sensitivity, this time period may vary greatly depending on the individual. With Dogger Bank itch, sensitivity is acquired after repeated handling of A. hirsutum that becomes entangled in the fishing nets.
The specific allergen
Allergen
An allergen is any substance that can cause an allergy. In technical terms, an allergen is a non-parasitic antigen capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic individuals....
responsible for the Dogger Bank itch was determined to be the chemical (2-hydroxyethyl) dimethylsulfoxonium ion. This compound, also isolated from the marine sponge Theonella aff. mirabilis, has potent cytotoxic activity against P388 leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
cells.
Treatment
A report of two cases in 2001 suggests that the rash responds to treatment with oral ciclosporinCiclosporin
Ciclosporin , cyclosporine , cyclosporin , or cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressant drug widely used in post-allogeneic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the immune system, and therefore the risk of organ rejection...
. In these two cases, initial treatments with oral prednisolone
Prednisolone
Prednisolone is the active metabolite of prednisone, which is also used as a drug.-Uses:Prednisolone is a corticosteroid drug with predominant glucocorticoid and low mineralocorticoid activity, making it useful for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory and auto-immune conditions such as...
and topical steroid
Topical steroid
Topical steroids are the topical forms of corticosteroids. Topical steroids are the most commonly prescribed topical medications for the treatment of rash, eczema, and dermatitis. Topical steroids have anti-inflammatory properties, and are classified based on their vasoconstriction abilities. There...
s were ineffective.