Laboratory animal allergy is preventable in modern research facilities
File(s)
Supporting information
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Historical data suggest 15% of laboratory animal workers develop IgE sensitisation and 10% symptoms of laboratory animal allergy (LAA), including occupational asthma. Individually ventilated cages (IVC) are replacing conventional open cages; we sought to evaluate their impact on the development of LAA. METHODS: We surveyed 750 laboratory animal workers and measured airborne Mus m 1 (mouse allergen) levels in seven UK institutions. We compared the prevalence of sensitisation to mouse proteins (by specific IgE assay or skin prick test) and of work-related allergic symptoms in IVC-only and open cage units. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Full shift Mus m 1 levels were lower in IVC than open cage units (geometric mean 1.00 ng·m-3 (95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.36) versus8.35 ng·m-3 (6.97-9.95); p<0.001) but varied eight-fold across the IVC units (GM range: 0.33-4.12 ng·m-3). Primary analyses on data from 216 participants with <3 years' exposure to mice revealed a lower prevalence of sensitisation in those working in IVC compared with conventional cage units (2.4% (n=2) versus9.8% (n=13); p=0.052). Sensitisation in IVC units varied from 0% to 12.5%; the use of fitted respiratory protection was less common in IVC units where prevalence of sensitisation was higher. Work-related allergy symptoms were more frequently reported by mouse sensitised individuals (46.7% versus 10.9%, p<0.001); and only by those working in open cage units. CONCLUSION: In contemporary practice, LAA is now largely preventable with the use of IVC systems and the judicious use of appropriate respiratory protection.
Date Issued
2019-06-20
Date Acceptance
2019-03-23
Citation
European Respiratory Journal, 2019, 53 (6)
ISSN
0903-1936
Publisher
European Respiratory Society
Journal / Book Title
European Respiratory Journal
Volume
53
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
©ERS 2019. This is an author-submitted, peer-reviewed version of a manuscript that has been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal, prior to copy-editing, formatting and typesetting. This version of the manuscript may not be duplicated or reproduced without prior permission from the copyright owner, the European Respiratory Society. The publisher is not responsible or liable for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or in any version derived from it by any other parties. The final, copy-edited, published article, which is the version of record, is available without a subscription 18 months after the date of issue publication.
Sponsor
The Colt Foundation
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30956209
PII: 13993003.00171-2019
Grant Number
COLT FDN PhD FELLOWSHIP 2016
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Respiratory System
VENTILATED CAGE SYSTEMS
OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA
WORKERS
EXPOSURE
SENSITIZATION
DETERMINANTS
PHENOTYPE
RODENTS
SMOKING
ATOPY
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Respiratory System
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
ARTN 1900171
Date Publish Online
2019-04-07