Etiological Investigation of Farmer's Lung Disease: A Serological Study

Abstract

To confirm the main etiological antigen of farmer's lung in Dafeng County, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China, precipitins in serum from 30 patients with farmer's lung were tested with several strains of antigens. Reactions against two strains of T.vulgaris were shown in 46.7% and 66.7% of the patients group, which were significantly higher than in the controls, while the percentage of reactions against Faenia rectivirgula and A.fumigates were low in the patients group and had no significant difference with the controls. The results indicate that the main etiological agents were some strains of T.vulgaris. This finding was consistent with the microbiological study of sputum of the patients and moldy hay samples from the working area.

Keywords

China Etiology farmer's lung serology Thermoactinomycetes vulgaris

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Tao Bing-Gen , Chen Guo-Xing , Shen Yi-E , et al.: An epidemiological survey of farmer's lung in Dafeng County, Jiangsu Province. Chin J Industr Hyg Occup Dis 1984; 2 (1): 34–38.

2. Pepys J , Jenkins PA : Farmer's lung. Thermophilic actinomycetes as source of “farmer's lung hay” antigen. Lancet 1963; 2: 607–611.

3. Lu Yun-Yi , Shen Yi-E : Studies on pathogens of farmer's lung in Jiangsu-isolation and classification of thermophilic actinomycetes. Acta Microbiologica Sinica 1985; 25 (4): 351–355.

4. Williams JV : Inhalation and skin test with extracts of hay and fungi in patients with farmer's lung. Thorax 1963; 18: 182–196.

5. Yu He , Xie Shao-Wen : Clinical Immunologic Technique.. Shanghai: Science and Technology Pub., 1982.

6. Burrell R , Rylander R : A Critical review of the role of precipitins in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Eur J Respir Dis 1981; 62: 332–343.

7. Pepys J , Jenkins PA : Precipitin (F.L.H.) test in farmer's lung. Thorax 1965; 20: 21–35.

8. Terho EO , Lacey J : Microbiological and serological studies of farmer's lung in Finland. Clin Allergy 1979; 9: 43–52.

9. Wenzel FJ , Gray RC , Roberts RC , Emanuel DA : Serologic studies in farmer's lung-Preciptins to the thermophilic actinomycetes. Am Rev Respir Dis 1974; 109: 464–468.

10.

10. Kurup VP : Serologic diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In: Microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, 1985.