title: Hatchery workers' IgG antibody profiles to airborne bacteria.
abstract: Occupational exposure to high concentrations of airborne bacteria in poultry production is related to an increased risk of respiratory disorders. However, etiology and in particular microorganisms' potential role in pathogenesis still needs to be elucidated. Thus, detection of specific antibodies against occupational microbial antigens may lead to identification of potentially harmful species. For the purpose of IgG titer determination, indirect immunofluorescence on various bacterial isolates from duck hatchery air was combined with image-based quantification of fluorescence intensity. Moreover, in addition to established assays with pure bacterial cultures, a new approach utilized complex bioaerosol samples for detection of anti-microbial antibodies in human sera by determination of percentages of antibody-bound cells in different serum dilutions. Mean titers in sera from hatchery workers and a non-exposed control group did not display significant differences for most tested isolates and application of comprehensive cluster analysis to entire titer data revealed no structure reflecting workers and controls group. Furthermore, determination of immunoreactivity to the complete microbial community in workplace air displayed similar proportions of antibody-bound cells in both groups. Although no general differences in immunoreaction patterns were observed, mean titers to a Proteus mirabilis isolate and to 3 of 4 distinct Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were higher in the group of hatchery workers than in the reference group indicating a potential applicability as exposure markers. We conclude, despite long term bioaerosol exposure, hatchery workers' IgG antibody profiles to tested antigens did not differ substantially from those of the control group. However, increased workers' titers to A. baumannii and clinical relevance of this species should lead to further investigations regarding potential involvement in pathogenesis of occupational respiratory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Nöldnerstraße 40/42, 10317 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brauner
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Nöldnerstraße 40/42, 10317 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gromöller
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany.
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilharm
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Nöldnerstraße 40/42, 10317 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: jaeckel.udo@baua.bund.de.
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jäckel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004372:Ducks; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; Bioaerosol; Image analysis; Indirect immunofluorescence; Occupational health; Proteus mirabilis