title: Pigeon breeders' disease: quantitative immunoelectrophoretic studies of pigeon bloom antigen.
abstract: This study employed quantitative immunoelectrophoretic techniques, on sera from confirmed cases of pigeon breeders' disease (PBD), to investigate the antigenicity of a pigeon bloom extract, implicated as a sensitizing agent in this disease. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis the maximum number of antigenic components identified was 29 for the bloom compared to 10 for pigeon serum. A major component was shown to be closely related to pigeon IgA, and demonstrated partial crossreactivity to the pigeon IgG. This component also showed identity with the major component of a pigeon droppings extract, considered to be derived from intestinal IgA. Only trace amounts of serum albumin were detected and most other bloom components were not serum-related. Although greater overall antigenic similarity was found to pigeon droppings extract, at least three of the bloom components appeared to be specific. The bloom extract also contained a low amount of an alpha-techoic acid-like component, causing some non-specific reactivity. Pigeon feather dust or 'bloom', like pigeon droppings, is therefore a potent source of antigens associated with PDB--pigeon IgA being a major component of both antigens.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, U.K.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Longbottom
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000209:etiology*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000941:Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G