Estimation of Airborne Rat-Derived Antigens by ELISA

Abstract

Double antibody sandwich ELISA procedures have been devised to estimate the concentrations of airborne rat urinary and epidermal antigens. Both assays were capable of detecting at least 3 ng/ml of antigen protein. Unknown concentrations were estimated in terms of the standard, laboratory-prepared material, as calculated from the linear relationship between absorbance and log concentration. The coefficient of variation of a single assay was 12%, the methods have been applied to extracts of the filter material from static and personal samplers in an animal room.

Determinants of airborne rat and mouse urinary allergen exposure

“…This finding is consistent with the results of an experimental study (20), in which the RUA concentration of the ambient air was reduced by filter tops to levels similar to those found in the same room in the absence of rats. As observed in some other studies, animal caretakers had the highest personal RUA and MUA exposure because they spent the largest proportion of their worktime on cleaning out cages, which involves handling contaminated bedding material, and handling large numbers of conscious animals (31)(32)(33). On Mondays the ambient air levels and the personal RUA and MUA levels were significantly elevated when compared with the levels on the other days of the week, mainly due to cleaning activities.…”

Reduction of airborne allergenic urinary proteins from laboratory rats.

“…High RUA concentrations occurred when the animals were housed on wood based, contact litter (geometric mean (GM) sawdust pg/m'; woodchip [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] pg/m'). The use of noncontact absorbent pads was associated with a significant decrease in RUA concentrations (GM 2-47 pg/m'; p < 0-0001).…”

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Inhibition Method to Estimate the Level of Airborne Bovine Epidermal Antigen in Cowsheds

“…A rabbit an tiserum offers, however, the advantage of availability and high titer allowing long-term studies with consis tent results. Previously, Davies et al [13] have used rabbit immune serum in their double-sandwich ELISA procedure to measure rat antigens in a labora tory animal room.…”

“…Lincoln et aL [11] estimated the level of airborne antigen in mouse-care rooms by counting animal dander particles microscopically, by measur ing protein nitrogen and by double diffusion, which showed a direct correlation between the intensity of the precipitin lines and the protein nitrogen units. A variety of immunochemical techniques have also been developed and used to determine the amount of air borne antigens derived from plants, laboratory ani mals and polluted air-conditioning systems [12][13][14][15][16][17].…”