title: Farmer's lung disease in north-western India--a preliminary report.
abstract: A study of farmer's lung (FL) disease was carried out in 197 subjects engaged in farming and having respiratory complaints of varying duration. It revealed that 13.2% of the subjects had precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes, with Faenia rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni) alone accounting for 85% of the positive reactions. Precipitating antibodies against Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were observed only in 1.5% and 0.5% of the subjects, respectively. Two subjects concomitantly demonstrated F. rectivirgula and T. vulgaris-specific serum precipitins. Sixty (30%) of the subjects related their respiratory symptoms to exposure to wheat straw/thresher's dust or other vegetable substrata in the working environment. Based upon a suggestive clinical history, roentgenography, pulmonary function studies and demonstration of serum precipitins against F. rectivirgula, FL was diagnosed in 4 subjects whose salient features are presented and discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first authentic report on FL from India. A comprehensive epidemiological survey is indicated to determine the prevalence of FL in different geo-climatic regions of the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gangwar
authors.forename: Z U
authors.initials: ZU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Randhawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005203:Farmer's Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008848:Micromonosporaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged