Humoral Immune Responses to Pig Urinary Proteins and Respiratory Health of Pig Farmers

Exposure levels, determinants and IgE mediated sensitization to bovine allergens among Danish farmers and non-farmers

“…This is in line with what has been found for pig and poultry farmers, where endotoxin exposure is regarded the key exposure of relevance for the health effects (Omland, 2002;Doekes et al, 1997). A couple of studies, including the SUS study, have suggested a protective effect of farming exposure on sensitization, also among dairy farmers (Portengen et al, 2002;Elholm et al, 2013;Basinas et al, 2012b;Smit et al, 2010) From studies among farmers with bovine sensitization and allergic disease the need for action (secondary and tertiary prevention) is obvious; the study by Hinze et al (1997) suggest avoidance of farming to decrease both symptoms severity and sIgE level for Bos d2 compared to farmers who continue to work as a farmer.…”

Relevance of early or current pet ownership to the prevalence of allergic disease

“…A similar form of response, i.e. increasing IgG4 without IgE ab or with decreasing IgE, has been described before in relation to natural bee stings, immunotherapy with bee venom, immunotherapy to other allergens, exposure to rat urinary allergen among animal handlers, and the response to food allergens in childhood [29–32]. The significance of this response to cat allergens comes from evidence that the expression of the gene for IgG4 is IL‐4‐dependent and thus, is a feature of a Th2 response [33,34] (Fig.…”