Elk has been reported as an occupational allergen(1-3). Thirteen patients from the western US were tested and had positive skin tests to moose and deer hair and IgE titers were elevated in four and nine patients, respectively. However, other studies have shown allergenic relations between deer epithelium allergens and horse or cow epithelium (1, 2) and recognition of deer serum albumin by bovine serum albumin-specific IgE antibodies can not be fully excluded (3). A scrimshander (bone carver) experienced anaphylaxis and asthma while carving deer bones.

Upon investigation it was found that the man had IgE-mediated allergy to the deer proteins altered by boiling in alkali (4).

Elk is a large species of deer native to Northern Europe, Asia and North America where it is called moose. Elk in N America refers to a different species of the same family, also known as wapiti.

Cross-reactivity

Crossreactivity between elk and deer allergens, as well as horse and cow allergens, has been suggested. (1-3)

Last Reviewed-  April 2022