Dogger Bank itch

The Dogger 's disease, also known as Dogger Bank Itch (English dogger bank- itch) is a skin disorder that occurs exclusively in the North Sea fishermen exploiting the Dogger Bank centrally located in the North Sea with bottom trawls.

Cause and effect

In the Dogger Bank 's disease is an allergic reaction to the (2- hydroxyethyl)- dimethylsulphoxonium cation which ( Bryozoa ) of the type Alcyonidium produced gelatinosum of bryozoans. These bryozoans, which occur only in the Marine Region, live in colonies on the seabed and are carried away by the trawl. The fishermen come in contact with the animals involuntarily, and it comes within a few months to several years to a sensitization of the skin for that ion.

The sulphoxonium ion is present in very low concentrations, only 5 ppm of the dry mass of the bryozoans provide corresponding ion dar. After contact, there is a coupling with the proteins of the skin or blood serum and thus to an antigen formation that triggers the allergic reaction. When symptoms develop redness, swelling and blisters.