Tropomyosin, the allergenic protein in shrimp, is also found in dust mites, cockroaches and other insects. The goal of the study was to determine whether there was a strong correlation between shrimp, cockroach and dust mite IgE levels.

Researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine examined blood samples of asthmatic children from seven inner-city areas across the United States. The children who had a high exposure to cockroaches at home had significantly higher levels of shrimp IgE than children who had low exposure to cockroaches.

There was not a high correlation between dust mite exposure and shrimp IgE levels.