Cockroach sensitization in laboratory workers.
Six laboratory workers who were exposed to American cockroaches (AC) and German cockroaches (GC) while they were performing immunologic experiments were evaluated for cockroach hypersensitivity. Prick skin testing and RAST were performed with whole body extracts (1:20 wt/vol) of AC, brown-banded (BB), and GC species as well as hemolymph and fecal (F) extracts of AC. Three of six workers reported work-related nasal and ocular symptoms associated with xenografting and bleeding of cockroaches. All three symptomatic workers exhibited cutaneous reactivity to at least one cockroach antigen. Elevated RAST binding was observed in one of the three symptomatic workers. A nasal provocation to AC was positive in the most symptomatic worker at a provocative dose of 3.2 X 10(-3) mg causing a 50% decrease of nasal flow rate from baseline. After pretreatment with nasal cromolyn, the provocative dose causing a 50% decrease from baseline increased to 2.6 X 10(-1) mg. Nasal provocation with the same concentrations of AC were negative in two skin test negative subjects. RAST-inhibition studies demonstrated cross inhibition of the serum-specific IgE binding to AC-hemolymph by AC, GC, and BB whole body extracts. However, specific IgE binding to AC-F was inhibited by AC-F and AC but not by GC or BB whole body extracts, suggesting there was greater specificity of the F allergens. This study demonstrated that cockroach allergens elicit IgE-dependent upper respiratory sensitization in the workplace.
Steinberg
D R
DR
Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio 45267.
Bernstein
D I
DI
Gallagher
J S
JS
Arlian
L
L
Bernstein
I L
IL
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory / Q000276:immunology*; D001695:Biology; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D007753:Laboratories; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests; D000078329:Workforce