Hoya (sea squirt)

Agent Name
Hoya (sea squirt)
Major Category
Biological Agents
Synonyms
Sea-squirt
Category
Animal-Derived Allergens
Sources/Uses
"Workers on oyster farms in Japan sometimes develop sea-squirt (hoya) asthma. Sea-squirts are protochordates which attach to oyster shells; when removed from the sea, sea-squirts expel a large volume of body fluid through the exhalent orifice. The body fluid contaminates the oyster shell. Since 1958 the incidence of this occupational disease greatly increased. In 1964, 20 percent of oyster farm workers had sea-squirt asthma." [Occupational Asthma, C. A. Frazier, Editor; New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1980. pages 209-228.]
Comments
Occupational asthma reported in oyster farm worker; [Malo]
Biomedical References

Adverse Effects

Asthma
Yes

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: