Which occupations are particularly at risk of zoonosis allergy?
All people who have direct contact with animals in their work are at risk of allergy. These are primarily veterinarians, farmers and animal breeders, employees of horse studs, zoological gardens, circuses, laboratory workers working with experimental animals, etc.
What is the risk of constant contact with bird allergens?
Bird allergens pose a greater health risk than mammalian antigens. This is evidenced by the frequency of allergic respiratory and skin diseases in poultry farmers and employees of poultry industry plants. Bird antigens are contained in particles of feathers, epidermis, exudates and excretions of birds and can cause serious illness - allergic alveolitis - so-called "lungs of a bird breeder".
What is this disease - "the lungs of a bird breeders"?
It is a disease that occurs most often in pigeon breeders and budgies, whose antigens show a special allergenic effect. It is characterized by a chronic, slowly growing feeling of too short a breath, loss of energy, fatigue. It can be a serious disability. In the case of this disease, the removal of animals from the environment is necessary.
Do the poultry houses pose a similar threat to health, like breeding pigeons or parakeets?
No, allergens from popular poultry species are less of a threat. However, in a few percent of breeders of hens and ducks, there are cases of "lungs of a bird breeder".
What other symptoms of allergy to bird allergens might be?
Sensitization to avian antigens may be the cause of bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis and skin. Asthma cases are also registered in poultry farmers and employees of egg plants exposed to inhalation of the "aerosol" of the drip egg mass.
What occupational diseases are caused by mammalian allergens?
Mammalian antigens - found in the particles of the epidermis, hair, wool, secretions and excreta - can cause bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis. (They do not cause allergic alveolitis.)
What are the risks for farmers-farmers and workers?
Farmers, cow farmers are exposed to asthma, which may be caused by inhalation of the skin and cow's hair. Asthma is also endangered by pig farmers as a result of allergy to swine urine. Dairy workers can be allergic to milk protein (alpha-lactalbumin) scattered in the air of factory halls.
What is the danger of working with laboratory animals?
Antigens of laboratory animals - mice, rats, rabbits and guinea pigs - are strong, especially rabbit. They cause chronic rhinitis, asthma, as well as skin lesions - such as urticaria, Quincke's edema and contact dermatitis. According to various sources, between 12 and 56% of people who regularly work with laboratory animals have allergic symptoms as a result of contact with them.
Ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA
Consultation by prof. dr hab. med. Andrzej Danysz
