Factors affecting the development of precipitating antibodies in workers exposed to contaminated humidifiers

Finnegan, Michelle; Pickering, Christopher; Davies, Patricia; Austwick, P. K. C.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1985.tb02286.x

Cited by 28 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…Relationships of exposure to viable moulds and to total dust with IgG anti body levels have been shown in wood trimmers [13] and in pig farmers [26], respectively. Relationships of the anti body level with the assumed exposure intensity have been shown in pigeon breeders [27], in workers exposed to con taminated humidifiers [4,5], and in farmers [28]. Our study is in agreement with these studies and indicates ex posure levels of R. microsporus and R variotii spores that may cause development of antibodies.…”

Section: Antibody Level In Relation To Exposuresupporting

confidence: 82%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Relationships between Exposure to Spores from Rhizopus microsporus and Paecilomyces variotii and Serum IgG Antibodies in Wood Trimmers

Eduard¹,

Sandven²,

Levy³

1992

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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A longitudinal study of wood trimmers exposed to mould spores was carried out from 1985 to 1988. Exposure to airborne spores from Rhizopus microsporus ssp. rhizopodiformis and Paecilomyces variotii was measured by scanning electron microscopy of filter samples. Specific IgG antibodies to these moulds were measured by ELISA in serum samples collected at half-year intervals. Antibody levels to R. microsporus and P. variotii were higher in wood trimmers than in other sawmill workers whose jobs had an assumed lower exposure to mould spores. Antibody levels were significantly elevated after periods with high exposure compared to antibody levels in the same wood trimmers after periods with low exposure. Antibodies were also found in newly employed wood trimmers. These wood trimmers were exposed to 1,300 × 10³R. microsporus spores/m³ and 130 × 10³P. variotii spores/m³ (arithmetic mean exposure). Antibody levels in the newly employed wood trimmers were similar to antibody levels in wood trimmers who had already worked in the trimming department before the start of the study. Antibody levels to R. microsporus and P. variotii in wood trimmers can be regarded as indicators of fairly recent exposure. There were, however, large differences between the individual antibody levels of similarly exposed wood trimmers.

show abstract

Section: Antibody Level In Relation To Exposuresupporting

confidence: 82%

“…The antigens can be found in the work ing environments of these patients, such as farms [1,2] and sawmills [3], and working environments with contami nated humidifiers [4,5]. Exposure may also occur in lei sure time due to activities such as pigeon breeding [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between Exposure to Spores from Rhizopus microsporus and Paecilomyces variotii and Serum IgG Antibodies in Wood Trimmers

Eduard¹,

Sandven²,

Levy³

1992

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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“…It also seemed in the present study that there was a higher proportion of nonsmokers in the group of farmers with toxic febrile reactions than among reference farmers. Similar findings in humidi fier fever have been interpreted as evidence of the role of properly functioning alveolar macrophages in the precipitin response observed in this disease [7],…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Incidence of Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome and Allergic Alveolitis in Swedish Farmers

Malmberg¹,

Rask‐Andersen

Höglund

et al. 1988

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

100

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The incidence of allergic alveolitis (AA) and of febrile reactions (FR) to inhaled mold dust in those who did not meet the criteria of AA was investigated in Swedish farmers, and the findings were related to farming methods and exposure type. A questionnaire was completed by 6,702 farmers. A stratified sample of 390 farmers underwent examination comprising spirometry, a skin-prick test, blood tests for precipitating antibodies and total IgE and an interview concerning symptoms, exposure and farming methods. The yearly incidence of AA was 2–3/10,000 farmers. The incidence of FR was 30–50 times higher (1/100 farmers) and the majority of these reactions was of a toxic rather than allergic type (organic dust toxic syndrome). Among farmers with recent FR or AA there was a higher frequency of positive precipitin reactions (p < 0.05). Exposures to moldy grain, straw, wood chips and hay were associated with both AA and FR. A major difference in exposure between 17 farmers with AA and 80 with FR was that AA appeared to require repeated exposure, while FR was associated with occasional heavy exposure to mold dust.

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“…It might be related to the previously described suppression of alveolar macrophage function in smokers (28) and the weakened role of such macrophages as carriers of antigen to the local lymph nodes (29). A correlation between impaired antibody response and smoking has also been described in patients with the humidifier fever syndrome (30).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Etiological diagnosis of pneumonia in military conscripts by combined use of bacterial culture and serological methods

Lehtomäki

Leinonen

Takala

et al. 1988

Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis.

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The combined use of microbiological, serological and clinical laboratory methods was evaluated for etiological diagnosis of pneumonia in 106 military conscripts. Special attention was paid to rapid diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia and its differentiation from viral and mycoplasmal pneumonia. The microbial etiology could be established in 91 (86%) of the pneumonia patients. Pneumococcal etiology was definitely established in 32 (30%) patients and considered probable in an additional 21 patients (20%). Infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and adenovirus was confirmed in 23 (22%) of the patients. Mixed infections was observed in 28 (31%) of the patients with established etiology. Detection of pneumococcal antigen was the best rapid diagnostic method, being positive in 90% of the patients with purulent sputum samples in the group with a definite diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia prior to the start of antimicrobial treatment, while Gram stain was positive in only 65% of these patients. Sputum purulence could be used to differentiate very significantly pneumococcal from viral and mycoplasmal pneumonia (p less than 0.001). These categories of pneumonia could also be successfully differentiated by clinical laboratory tests, of which the white blood cell count and C-reactive protein were most useful. The suggested cut-off value for the cell count was 10 X 10(9)/l, and for C-reactive protein 85 mg/l. These tests could not differentiate viral from mycoplasmal pneumonias.

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Factors affecting the development of precipitating antibodies in workers exposed to contaminated humidifiers

Cited by 28 publications

References 19 publications

Relationships between Exposure to Spores from <i>Rhizopus</i> <i>microsporus</i> and <i>Paecilomyces variotii</i> and Serum IgG Antibodies in Wood Trimmers

Relationships between Exposure to Spores from <i>Rhizopus</i> <i>microsporus</i> and <i>Paecilomyces variotii</i> and Serum IgG Antibodies in Wood Trimmers

Incidence of Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome and Allergic Alveolitis in Swedish Farmers

Etiological diagnosis of pneumonia in military conscripts by combined use of bacterial culture and serological methods

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