Gelatine allergy
Gelatine is an animal protein derived from bovine and porcine connective
tissue. It is used in amounts that range from micrograms to milligrams
as a stabiliser in viral attenuated vaccines in order to protect them
against unfavourable conditions52. Despite extremely
rare, in case of allergy to animal gelatine or to
galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) contained in mammalian meat, a
gelatine-free vaccine is the first choice. Anyway to assess
sensitization to gelatine the allergy workup is based on:
I) skin prick testing performed
with 5g gelatine powder diluted in 5 ml saline52 and
mammalian meet extract; II) serological test with the determination of
specific IgE to mammalian meet and galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose
(α-Gal).