title: Cow hair allergen (Bos d 2) content in house dust: correlation with sensitization in farmers with cow hair asthma.
abstract: Farmers (N = 45) suffering from occupational cow hair asthma were visited at home to evaluate the concentration of cow hair major allergen Bos d 2 in the house dust and to correlate these results with measures of avoidance, degree of sensitization, clinical symptoms, and lung function. Bos d 2 was determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. In dust of tiles and linoleum Bos d 2 was difficult to detect, whereas dust samples of carpets often contained high concentrations of the allergen (50-520 micrograms/g fine dust). Bos d 2 levels were significantly higher when barn and living quarters were in the same building. Concentrations of cow hair-specific IgE were correlated with concentrations of Bos d 2 in house dust samples. A concentration of 20-29 micrograms Bos d 2 per gram of house dust could be established as threshold value for relevant IgE sensitization. Avoiding the barn is not a sufficient avoidance measure for cow hair asthmatics if the partner continues cattle farming. Cessation of cattle farming and avoiding the former barn results in a marked reduction in Bos d 2 concentration in living quarters, a decreased degree of sensitization, and a reduced symptom score. Farmers with cow hair asthma should avoid cattle and thoroughly clean all carpets in the living quarters to avoid continuous cow allergen exposure.
authors.affiliation: Allergie- und Asthmaklinik Wilhelm Gronemeyer, Kuranstalten und Forschungsinstitute Bad Lippspringe GmbH, Bad Lippspringe, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hinze
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Løwenstein
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006197:Hair / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E