title: Antibodies to pigeon antigens in pigeon breeders. Detection of antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: Antibodies to whole pigeon serum (PS) and pigeon dropping extract (PDE) were investigated in pigeon breeders and controls by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The optimal antigen concentration was in the range of 3-30 microgram protein/ml for both PS and PDE. PDE antibody titres greater than or equal to 10240 were found in three (75%) of four patients with pigeon breeders' disease (PBD) and in 19 (13.6%) of 140 other pigeon breeders (P = 0.011). PS antibody titres greater than or equal to 10240 occurred in all four (100%) PBD patients and in only seven (5.0%) of 140 other breeders (P = 0.0002). In 85 blood donors antibodies in low titres against PS and PDE occurred in 4.7% and 7.1%, respectively. By immunodiffusion three or more precipitin lines were found more often in PBD patients than in other breeders (P = 0.0006), and the highest ELISA antibody titres occurred in patients with precipitating antibodies. No correlation between P blood group phenotypes or anti-P1 antibodies and respiratory symptoms or antibodies to pigeon antigens could be demonstrated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D001947:Breeding; D010856:Columbidae / Q000276:immunology*; D003371:Cough / Q000276:immunology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010127:P Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D010127:P Blood-Group System