title: Early sensitization to farming-related antigens among young farmers: analysis of risk factors.
abstract: It was the aim of this study to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for IgE- and IgG-mediated allergy in young farmers. We investigated 147 young men attending a farming college in the Austrian Tyrol and 57 age-matched pupils at a grammar school. All individuals completed a questionnaire and had spirometry, skin prick tests, total and specific IgE analysis, and testing for precipitins against thermophilic actinomycetes and true fungi. In the farming group, a family history of atopy or asthma was reported less frequently than in the control group (p < 0.001) but there were no differences in the frequencies of actual respiratory symptoms. Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was slightly lower in the farmers than in the pupils (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the prevalence of IgE-mediated allergy. Nine of the farmers but none of the pupils had precipitating antibodies against Faeni rectivirgula (p < 0.05). Overall reactivity (as defined by at least one positive finding with the skin prick test, specific IgE, or precipitins) was associated with larger farming estates, lack of a haydrying device, use of mouldy hay, and positive family history of asthma (p < 0.05). We conclude that in farmers, precipitin formation may occur at an early age and that even in younger age groups there is a clear relationship between allergic sensitization and occupational allergen exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001317:Austria; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E