Medical and veterinary impact of the urticating processionary larvae

Abstract

This chapter presents recent findings on the impact of processionary moths on human and animal health. The data obtained demonstrate that setae can be dispersed kms away from their origin, a fact that explains why some sensitized subjects experience symptoms without a direct contact with larvae. The presence of allergens present in setae, the immune response to these allergens and the epidemiological aspects of the impact on humans and animals are described. A software (URTIRISK) has been developed that allows to observe the evolution of the allergic risk associated with the presence of pine processionary moth, through-out the French territory.