Respiratory health effects and immunological response to Thermoactinomyces among sugar cane workers in Nicaragua.
Specific sensitization and respiratory effects associated with the inhalation of sugar cane dust were evaluated in a group of 51 Nicaraguan workers exposed to bagasse. A questionnaire interview, lung function test, serum precipitin tests for Thermoactinomyces sacchari and T. vulgaris, and immunoglobulin E tests for specific environmental allergens were performed for each worker. Twenty-one workers reported at least one respiratory symptom and 16 reported possible symptoms of bagassosis. Six workers demonstrated acute symptoms, 1 had chronic symptoms, and 9 had the reacutized form of the disease. A higher proportion of precipitin response to T. sacchari and T. vulgaris was found in workers reporting symptoms suggestive of acute bagassosis. A possible restrictive ventilatory pattern was observed in 8 subjects and a mild airway obstruction in 1 subject. Priority must be given to a surveillance and exposure prevention program for workers employed in sugar cane production and processing.
Romeo
Luciano
L
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Occupational Medicine, University of Verona, Italy. luciano.romeo@univr.it
Dalle Molle
Katia
K
Zanoni
Giovanna
G
Peretti
Andrea
A
Marangi
Gianluca
G
Conrado
Lisset Guadalupe Loaisiga
LG
Aragón
Aurora
A
Perbellini
Luigi
L
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005203:Farmer's Lung / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008848:Micromonosporaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009527:Nicaragua / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013147:Spirometry