Jones Meinir, Blair Sue, MacNeill Stephanie, Welch Jennifer, Hole Alice, Baxter Peter, Cullinan Paul
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK.
Occupational Health Service, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Occup Environ Med. 2017 Jun;74(6):422-425. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2016-103834. Epub 2016 Dec 30.
(the 'fruit fly') is commonly used in genetic research, but there is only one report of IgE-associated allergy in exposed workers. 4 newly identified cases prompted us to examine the extent of this problem in a university laboratory. Our aim in this study is to determine the prevalence and determinants of sensitisation to fruit flies in a population of exposed workers.
In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed 286 employees working in a department carrying out research involving . Sensitisation was assessed by specific IgE measurement in serum and examined in relation to symptoms and to estimated exposure to fruit flies.
The overall prevalence of specific sensitisation was 6% with a clear relationship to increasing frequency/intensity of exposure (p trend<0.001). Work-related eye/nose, chest or skin symptoms were reported by substantial proportions of participants but for most of these there was no evidence of specific sensitisation to fruit fly. The overall prevalence of any work-related symptoms and sensitisation was 2.4%, rising to 7.1% in those working in high exposure groups.
We were able to demonstrate, for the first time, a clear exposure-response relationship between fruit fly exposure and specific sensitisation. Facilities housing fruit flies should carefully consider methods to reduce exposure levels in the workplace.
果蝇常用于基因研究，但仅有一份关于接触果蝇的工人中与IgE相关过敏的报告。4例新确诊病例促使我们在一所大学实验室中调查这一问题的严重程度。本研究的目的是确定接触果蝇的工人群体中对果蝇致敏的患病率及决定因素。
在一项横断面研究中，我们对在一个开展涉及果蝇研究的部门工作的286名员工进行了调查。通过检测血清中的特异性IgE评估致敏情况，并将其与症状以及估计的果蝇接触情况进行关联分析。
特异性致敏的总体患病率为6%，与接触频率/强度增加存在明显关联（趋势p<0.001）。相当比例的参与者报告了与工作相关的眼/鼻、胸部或皮肤症状，但其中大多数没有对果蝇特异性致敏的证据。任何与工作相关症状和致敏的总体患病率为2.4%，在高暴露组工作的人员中升至7.1%。
我们首次能够证明果蝇接触与特异性致敏之间存在明确的暴露-反应关系。饲养果蝇的设施应仔细考虑降低工作场所暴露水平的方法。
