TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunological and respiratory findings in swine farmers
AU - Zuskin, Eugenija
AU - Kanceljak, Bozica
AU - Schachter, E. Neil
AU - Mustajbegovic, Jadranka
AU - Goswami, Satindra
AU - Maayani, Saul
AU - Marom, Zvi
AU - Rienzi, Nicholas
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported in part by Grant No. JF 733 from the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, Grant No. R01 OHO 2593-01A1 from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, and by the Henry and Catherine Gaisman and the Miller Foundation, New York, NY.
PY - 1991/12
Y1 - 1991/12
N2 - The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity abnormalities in relation to immunological status was studied in 32 swine farmers and in 39 controls. A large number of swine farmers reacted to swine confinement building antigens (swine hair, 34%, swine confinement agents, 28%) but also to other extracts such as animal food (78%) and corn flour (37%). Control workers also reacted to these antigens in similar frequencies. Increased serum IgE levels were found in 3 swine farmers (9.4%) and all 3 had positive skin tests to at least one of the swine antigens. Among control workers one (2.6%) had an increased serum IgE level; this worker exhibited a positive skin reaction to swine food antigen. Swine farmers with positive skin reactions had across-shift reductions of FEF50 and FEF25 significantly larger than those with negative skin tests (P < 0.01). Preshift measured ventilatory capacity data (FEV1, FEF50, FEF25) in swine farmers with positive skin tests were significantly lower (compared to predicted) than in those with negative skin tests. Additionally, we showed that a water-soluble swine confinement building antigen causes a dose-related contraction of nonsensitized guinea pig trachea smooth muscle studied in vitro. Our data indicate significant differences in lung function between swine workers with positive and negative skin tests. We suggest that skin testing may be helpful in identifying workers at risk for developing lung disease.
AB - The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity abnormalities in relation to immunological status was studied in 32 swine farmers and in 39 controls. A large number of swine farmers reacted to swine confinement building antigens (swine hair, 34%, swine confinement agents, 28%) but also to other extracts such as animal food (78%) and corn flour (37%). Control workers also reacted to these antigens in similar frequencies. Increased serum IgE levels were found in 3 swine farmers (9.4%) and all 3 had positive skin tests to at least one of the swine antigens. Among control workers one (2.6%) had an increased serum IgE level; this worker exhibited a positive skin reaction to swine food antigen. Swine farmers with positive skin reactions had across-shift reductions of FEF50 and FEF25 significantly larger than those with negative skin tests (P < 0.01). Preshift measured ventilatory capacity data (FEV1, FEF50, FEF25) in swine farmers with positive skin tests were significantly lower (compared to predicted) than in those with negative skin tests. Additionally, we showed that a water-soluble swine confinement building antigen causes a dose-related contraction of nonsensitized guinea pig trachea smooth muscle studied in vitro. Our data indicate significant differences in lung function between swine workers with positive and negative skin tests. We suggest that skin testing may be helpful in identifying workers at risk for developing lung disease.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0026348891
U2 - 10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80002-7
DO - 10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80002-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 1769359
AN - SCOPUS:0026348891
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 56
SP - 120
EP - 130
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
IS - 2
ER -