Precipitins against microbes in mouldy hay in the sera of farmers with farmer's lung or chronic bronchitis and of healthy farmers
Husman, K.; Vohlonen, I.; Terho, E.O.; Mäntyjärvi, R.A.
European Journal of Respiratory Diseases. Supplement 152: 122-127
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0106-4347 PMID: 3478211 Document Number: 300071
A total of 2440 farmers were involved in this study. The antigen panel consisted of mycelial antigens of Micropolyspora faeni [Faenia rectivirgula], Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, Aspergillus fumigatus and A. umbrosus. As reference groups, healthy farmers and those with chronic bronchitis were used. For the occurrence of precipitins against the 4 antigens, there was a statistically significant difference between farmers with farmer's lung (FL) and healthy farmers but not between farmers with chronic bronchitis and healthy farmers. In a stepwise logistic linear regression analysis, farmers with FL and chronic bronchitis were compared with healthy farmers with respect to precipitins to the 4 antigens. Precipitins against T. vulgaris differentiated farmers with FL (p < 0.05) but not farmers with chronic bronchitis from healthy farmers. It is concluded that, in Finland the occurrence of FL seems to be associated mainly with precipitins agianst T. vulgaris.