Sensitization of dairy farmers to bovine antigens and effects of exposure on specific IgG and IgE titers.

Sensitization of dairy farmers to bovine-derived allergens and factors influencing this process were studied during the indoor cattle-feeding season. Eighteen typical family farms in eastern Finland were included in the study. Samples of airborne particulate material from stationary sites and the breathing zones of farmers were analyzed for bovine epithelial antigen (BEA) by the immunochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition test. The levels of specific IgG and IgE antibodies against BEA and bovine urinary antigen (BUA) were measured from serum samples collected from farmers three times during the study. An association was found between anti-BUA IgG titers and BEA concentrations in the breathing zone. No major changes were observed between the antibody levels of sera collected at different times. In the samples from subjects with allergic rhinitis, however, a slight tendency toward descending anti-BUA IgE titers was found.