To study the major allergens of edible mantis shrimp among residents of Tianjin.MethodsSerums of 116patients of edible mantis shrimp allergy were collected by skin prick test, and the main allergens were identified from the crude shrimp extract by immunoblotting technique with serums as the probe. Five typical serums were chosen form 62positive samples. The cross-reactivity between edible mantis shrimp and scallop allergens were tested by immunoblotting inhibition experiments. ResultsThe western blot showed that the serum of allergy pateints had different binding sites. The reaction rate of 35kDa tropomyosin was 64.5% (40/62), and that of 67kDa and >90kDa were 41.9% (26/62) and 54.8% (34/62) respectively. Immunoblotting inhibition showed that the main cross-reaction protein was tropomyosin. The larger molecular weight protein showed less cross-reactivity.ConclusionIn addition to tropomyosin, several large molecular weight proteins of edible mantis shrimp could cause allergy among adults in Tianjin and cross-reactivity with scallop was low. This suggested that some of the high-molecular-weight proteins might play an important role in edible mantis shrimp allergy.