Schlünssen V, Basinas I, Zahradnik E, Elholm G, Wouters I M, Kromhout H, Heederik D, Bolund A C S, Omland Ø, Raulf M, Sigsgaard T
Department of Public Health, Section for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Department of Public Health, Section for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2015 Mar;218(2):265-72. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.12.002. Epub 2014 Dec 11.
Bovine allergens can induce allergic airway diseases. High levels of allergens in dust from stables and homes of dairy farmers have been reported, but sparse knowledge about determinants for bovine allergen levels and associations between exposure level and sensitization is available.
To investigate levels and determinants of bovine allergen exposure among dairy, pig and mink farmers (bedroom and stable), and among former and never farmers (bedroom), and to assess the prevalence of bovine allergen sensitization in these groups.
In 2007-2008, 410 settled dust samples were collected in stables and in bedrooms using an electrostatic dust-fall collector over a 14 day period among 54 pig farmers, 27 dairy farmers, 3 mink farmers as well as 71 former and 48 never farmers in Denmark. For farmers sampling was carried out both during summer and winter. Bovine allergen levels (μg/m(2)) were measured using a sandwich ELISA. Determinants for bovine allergen exposure in stables and bedrooms were explored with mixed effect regression analyses. Skin prick test with bovine allergen was performed on 48 pig farmers, 20 dairy farmers, 54 former and 31 never farmers.
Bovine allergen levels varied by five orders of magnitude, as expected with substantially higher levels in stables than bedrooms, especially for dairy farmers. Bovine allergen levels in bedrooms were more than one order of magnitude higher for dairy farmers compared to pig farmers. Former and never farmers had low levels of bovine allergens in their bedroom. Bovine allergen levels during summer appeared to be somewhat higher than during winter. Increased bovine allergen levels in the bedroom were associated with being a farmer or living on a farm. Mechanical ventilation in the bedroom decreased bovine allergen level, significant for dairy farmers β=-1.4, p<0.04. No other significant effects of either sampling or residence characteristics were seen. Allergen levels in dairy stables were associated to type of dairy stable, but not to other stable or sampling characteristics. Sensitization to bovine allergens was only found in one pig farmer.
This study confirms high bovine allergen levels in dairy farms, but also suggests sensitization to bovine allergens among Danish farmers to be uncommon. Furthermore the importance of a carrier home effect on allergen load is emphasized. Whether the risk for bovine sensitization is related to the allergen level in the stable or the dwelling remains to be determined.
牛过敏原可诱发过敏性气道疾病。已有报道称，奶农的畜舍和家中灰尘中的过敏原水平较高，但关于牛过敏原水平的决定因素以及暴露水平与致敏之间的关联，人们了解甚少。
调查奶农、养猪户和养貂户（卧室和畜舍）以及曾经的农民和从未务农者（卧室）中牛过敏原暴露的水平及决定因素，并评估这些群体中牛过敏原致敏的患病率。
2007年至2008年期间，在丹麦，使用静电降尘收集器，在14天内从54名养猪户、27名奶农、3名养貂户以及71名曾经的农民和48名从未务农者的畜舍和卧室中收集了410份沉降灰尘样本。对于农民，在夏季和冬季均进行采样。使用夹心酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）测量牛过敏原水平（μg/m²）。通过混合效应回归分析探讨畜舍和卧室中牛过敏原暴露的决定因素。对48名养猪户、20名奶农、54名曾经的农民和31名从未务农者进行了牛过敏原皮肤点刺试验。
牛过敏原水平相差五个数量级，正如预期的那样，畜舍中的水平明显高于卧室，尤其是对于奶农而言。与养猪户相比，奶农卧室中的牛过敏原水平高出一个多数量级。曾经的农民和从未务农者卧室中的牛过敏原水平较低。夏季的牛过敏原水平似乎略高于冬季。卧室中牛过敏原水平的升高与务农或居住在农场有关。卧室中的机械通风降低了牛过敏原水平，对奶农而言具有显著意义，β=-1.4，p<0.04。未观察到采样或居住特征的其他显著影响。奶牛场畜舍中的过敏原水平与奶牛场类型有关，但与其他畜舍或采样特征无关。仅在一名养猪户中发现对牛过敏原致敏。
本研究证实了奶牛场中牛过敏原水平较高，但也表明丹麦农民对牛过敏原致敏并不常见。此外，强调了携带家庭效应（carrier home effect）对过敏原负荷的重要性。牛致敏风险是否与畜舍或住所中的过敏原水平有关仍有待确定。
