Mites in facilities for laboratory animals

Pennanen, Sirpa; Harju, Anu

doi:10.5271/sjweh.736

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This finding is in concordance with our earlier pilot study, where as many as 25% of the samples collected in facilities for laboratory animals contained mites which were so well preserved that they could be microscopically identified. 17 In that study, most of the mites were storage mites belonging to the Astigmata and Prostigmata species. The appearance of mites in the working environment may explain the high prevalence of positive reactions to mites among the laboratory animal workers found in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Sensitisation to mites in laboratory animal workers with rhinitis

Ruoppi

Koistinen²,

Pennanen³

2005

Occup Environ Med

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Aims: To determine the frequency of sensitisation to mites among rhinitic laboratory animal workers and to clarify whether sensitisation could be occupational. Methods: Skin prick tests (SPT) were performed in 40 subjects who were working with laboratory animals in Kuopio University research units and who had been referred to Kuopio University Hospital for work related rhinitis. The SPT panel consisted of three storage mites, two house dust mites, 11 other common environmental airborne allergens, latex, and 2-4 individually relevant laboratory animals. To determine signs of mites in animal facilities, guanine was determined in 22 dust samples taken from feedstuffs or bedding material used for laboratory animals and from rooms where these materials were stored and handled. Results: Positive SPT results were found in 35 out of 40 workers: in 14 for storage mites, four for house dust mites, 25 for other common aeroallergens, as well as positive reactions to laboratory animals in 19 individuals. The guanine test was positive, indicating the presence of mite derived material in 21 out of 22 dust samples. Conclusions: This study suggests that subjects who are occupationally exposed to laboratory animals are also exposed to mite derived allergens. Sensitisation to mites is common and may be work related. W ork related respiratory symptoms are an important health problem among laboratory animal workers and rhinoconjunctivitis is the most common complaint.1 Rhinoconjunctivitis may be caused by laboratory animal allergy (LAA), which is a well known occupational hazard. The prevalence rate of LAA is between 20% and 40%. 1In cases where no specific sensitisation to laboratory animals has been revealed in clinical examination, the work related symptoms have been considered as resulting from nonspecific hyperresponsiveness to animal derived or other agents, such as dust, disinfectants, or ammonia that also are present in laboratory animal facilities.2 When a group of laboratory animal workers were examined in our clinic for work related rhinitis, our attention was drawn to numerous positive skin prick test (SPT) results for at least one of the three storage mites that were included in the routine test panel. This provided the impetus to determine the actual frequency of sensitisation to mites, especially to storage mites, among rhinitic laboratory animal workers. Another aim was to clarify whether this sensitisation could be occupational. There are no previous reports of sensitisation to mites in animal work. MATERIAL AND METHODSThe study subjects consisted of 40 rhinitic animal workers. They were exposed to laboratory animals in the research units of the University of Kuopio, where about 250 people are working with animals at any given time. In a questionnaire study, 65 out of 254 employees reported work related rhinitis and 47 of them had been examined for LAA.3 Those 40 rhinitic animal workers, who in that connection were also tested for mites, constitute the subjects of the present study.There were 24 researchers, 10 labo...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Sensitisation to mites in laboratory animal workers with rhinitis

Ruoppi

Koistinen²,

Pennanen³

2005

Occup Environ Med

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“…Animal facilities, including experimental laboratories, zoo cages, and pig and poultry farms studied in Germany, Poland, Finland, and Croatia showed generally low exposure to pyroglyphid mites (40)(41)(42), save for a few poultry farm samples exceeding the sensitisation threshold (43).…”

Section: Exposure To House Dust Mites In Public/occupational Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pyroglyphid Mites as a Source of Work-Related Allergens

Macan¹,

Kanceljak-Macan²,

Milković-Kraus³

2012

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

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Pyroglyphid mites are primarily associated with allergen exposure at home; hence the name house dust mites. However, we have found numerous studies reporting pyroglyhid mite levels in public and occupational settings. This review presents the fi ndings of house dust mite allergens (family Pyroglyphidae, species Dermatophagoides) as potential work-related risk factors and proposes occupations at risk of house dust mite-related diseases. Pyroglyphid mites or their allergens are found in various workplaces, but clinically relevant exposures have been observed in hotels, cinemas, schools, day-care centres, libraries, public transportation (buses, trains, taxies, and airplanes), fi shing-boats, submarines, poultry farms, and churches. Here we propose a classifi cation of occupational risk as low (occasional exposure to mite allergen levels up to 2 μg g -1 ), moderate (exposure between 2 μg g -1 and 10 μg g -1 ), and high (exposure >10 μg g -1 ). The classifi cation of risk should include factors relevant for indoor mite population (climate, building characteristics, and cleaning schedule). To avoid development or aggravation of allergies associated with exposure to house dust mites at work, occupational physicians should assess exposure risk at work, propose proper protection, provide vocational guidance to persons at risk and conduct pre-employment and periodic examinations to diagnose new allergy cases. Protection at work should aim to control dust mite levels at work. Measures may include proper interior design and regular cleaning and building maintenance.

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Arthropods and Bronchopulmonary Pathology

Martínez‐Girón¹

2013

Parasitic Diseases of the Lungs

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Mites in facilities for laboratory animals

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Sensitisation to mites in laboratory animal workers with rhinitis

Sensitisation to mites in laboratory animal workers with rhinitis

Pyroglyphid Mites as a Source of Work-Related Allergens

Arthropods and Bronchopulmonary Pathology

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