Mushroom worker's lung. Detection of antibodies against Shii-take (Lentinus edodes) spore antigens in Shii-take workers.
Indoor cultivation of the edible mushroom Shii-take (Lentinus edodes) regularly leads to symptoms of mushroom worker's lung (MWL) in workers. An immunologic test is described allowing detection of IgG type antibodies against Shii-take spore antigens. It was found that MWL patients employed in Shii-take picking (n = 5) have significantly increased antibody titres against Shii-take spore antigens. Different control groups, viz, MWL patients employed in the cultivation of the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus (n = 14) and of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus spp (n = 3), patients with Bechterew's syndrome (n = 7), sarcoidosis (n = 7), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 9), and healthy controls were found in the same range of low titres. The use of protective masks during picking reduced complaints of the workers (n = 14). However, their antibody titres increased with duration of employment despite the protection.
Van Loon
P C
PC
Mushroom Experimental Station, Horst, The Netherlands.
Cox
A L
AL
Wuisman
O P
OP
Burgers
S L
SL
Van Griensven
L J
LJ
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011124:Polyporaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000276:immunology
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G