In:
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 144, No. 3 ( 2007), p. 231-239
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Background: 〈 /i 〉 Industrial enzymes cause the increasing prevalence of occupational hypersensitivity. Our objective was to study workers occupationally exposed to fungal enzymes in 2 animal feed factories to determine if the sensitization originated in the enzymes or was caused by the microorganism used to produce the enzymes. 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 Eighty-six consenting workers were studied by skin prick tests with extracts from the enzymatic products handled in their factories. Positive workers were then studied by IgE immunoblotting and basophil activation was measured by flow cytometry. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 Eight of the 86 workers analysed (9%) tested positive and were more frequently sensitized to phytase from 〈 i 〉 Trichoderma 〈 /i 〉 and 〈 i 〉 Peniophora 〈 /i 〉 . Glucanase and α-amylase from 〈 i 〉 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 〈 /i 〉 did not cause sensitization in any worker. No cross-reactions were observed between 〈 i 〉 Trichoderma 〈 /i 〉 and 〈 i 〉 Peniophora 〈 /i 〉 sp. phytases. Workers were sensitized to the product that they handled. 〈 i 〉 Conclusions: 〈 /i 〉 Fungal enzymes cause occupational hypersensitivity in animal feed industries. Immunoblotting and basophil activation are useful to evaluate the effects of handling enzymes as part of the medical surveillance of enzyme-exposed workers. We describe 〈 i 〉 Peniophora 〈 /i 〉 sp. 6-phytase as a new allergen and enzymes from 〈 i 〉 Trichoderma 〈 /i 〉 as strong sensitizers.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1018-2438
,
1423-0097
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2007
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482722-0
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