Serum IgG antibodies against Wallemia sebi and Fusarium species in Finnish farmers.
BACKGROUND
Wallemia sebi and Fusarium species are common fungi in agricultural environments. Because Fusarium species are difficult to culture, and W. sebi has only recently been found in an agricultural environment with the use of a new culture medium, immunochemical methods may be important for evaluating exposure to these fungi.


OBJECTIVE
Immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies against W. sebi and two Fusarium species were measured in the sera of Finnish farmers to estimate exposure to fungi.


METHODS
Serum-specific IgG antibody levels against the fungi were determined in farmers with farmer's lung disease and asthma, as well as in asymptomatic farmers with low and high IgG antibody levels against other agricultural microorganisms, and in control persons (printing and office workers). Both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme-linked immunofiltration assay (ELIFA) techniques were used.


RESULTS
Significantly higher IgG antibody levels against the fungi studied were observed in farmer's lung patients and asymptomatic farmers with high IgG levels against other agricultural fungi, than in the control group. On the other hand, the development of IgG antibodies to the fungi in asthmatic farmers remained unclear because of a discrepancy between the ELISA and ELIFA results. Cross-reactivity between Fusarium species was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that Finnish farmers are exposed to W. sebi and Fusarium species in their work environment to a greater extent than has earlier been evaluated with air sampling and microbiologic methods.
Lappalainen
S
S
University of Kuopio, Department of Environmental Sciences, Finland.
Pasanen
A L
AL
Reiman
M
M
Kalliokoski
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005203:Farmer's Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D005387:Finland; D005670:Fusarium / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000276:immunology*
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G