Original scientific paper

Immunological status and ventilatory capacity in furriers

E. Žuškin ; Škola narodnog zdravlja »Andrija Štampar« Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
B. Kanceljak ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
L. Štilinović ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
J. Godnić-Cvar ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
M. Tonković-Lojović ; Poslovna zajednica zdravstva grada Zagreba, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

A group of 54 women employed in the fur processing industry and a control group of 31 non-furriers were examined. The highest prevalence of positive immediate skin reactions to antigen from animal hair was found for marten (10%), followed by fox and lamb (7%), mink (5%) and chinese lamb, domestic fox and chinese calf {2%). Precipitating antibodies were demonstrated for lamb (17%), astrakhan (14%), mink, domestic fox and for skunk (12%), chinese lamb (10%), and chinese calf (7%). Increased total IgE was found in 9.5% of the furriers. Chronic respiratory symptoms were more prevalent among workers with positive skin tests and positive precipitins than among chose with negative tests. The prevalence of the acute symptoms was higher among workers with precipitins than in those without them. There was no such relationship between the symptoms and the results of skin tests. Acute reductions of ventilatory capacity over the work shift occurred in workers with positive precipitins but not in those with positive skin tests. Our study suggests that furriers can develop acute and chronic respiratory difficulties frequently associated with specific indicators of atopy.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

151624

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/151624

Publication date:

8.10.1990.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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