PMID- 21463332
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20111206
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 1398-9995 (Electronic)
IS  - 0105-4538 (Linking)
VI  - 66
IP  - 8
DP  - 2011 Aug
TI  - Pet shop workers: exposure, sensitization, and work-related symptoms.
PG  - 1081-7
LID - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02591.x [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: Allergy to laboratory animals is a well-known occupational hazard. 
      The aim was to investigate the frequency of allergic sensitization and 
      respiratory symptoms among pet shop staff and to document their work environment. 
      METHODS: Subjects (n = 59) from 24 pet shops were investigated with a 
      questionnaire and lung function tests and skin prick tests against a panel of 
      common inhalant and pet shop allergens. Blood samples were taken for 
      immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgE antibodies against Phadiatop and specific pet shop 
      allergens. Personal airborne rodent allergen (n = 40) and endotoxin exposure (n = 
      40) was measured during work. Airborne rodent allergens were also collected using 
      petri dishes at work (n = 40) and at home (n = 45). RESULTS: Fifty-three percent 
      reported nasal symptoms, 34% eye symptoms, and 22% had experienced symptoms 
      indicating asthma. However, only four workers (7%) were previously diagnosed with 
      asthma. One-third reported respiratory symptoms at work, mostly against rodents, 
      birds, insects, and hay, and 29% were sensitized to work-related allergens, 
      mainly rodents and fodder insects, e.g., Zophobas. Atopy and total IgE > 100 kU/l 
      increased prevalence of pet shop sensitization [prevalence ratio (PR) 17 and 5.5, 
      respectively], and atopy increased work-related symptoms (PR 3.2). Endotoxin 
      levels were similar between shops with and without rodents. Exposure to animals 
      outside of work was extensive. CONCLUSIONS: A third of the pet shop workers 
      reported airway symptoms at work or were sensitized, sometimes to unusual pet 
      shop allergens, especially among atopics. The findings stress the importance of 
      improving the knowledge of health risks and allergen avoidance measures among pet 
      shop staff.
CI  - (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
FAU - Renstrom, A
AU  - Renstrom A
AD  - National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Lung and Allergy Research, 
      Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Anne.Renstrom@ki.se
FAU - Olsson, M
AU  - Olsson M
FAU - Hedren, M
AU  - Hedren M
FAU - Johansson, S G O
AU  - Johansson SG
FAU - van Hage, M
AU  - van Hage M
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20110404
PL  - Denmark
TA  - Allergy
JT  - Allergy
JID - 7804028
RN  - 0 (Allergens)
SB  - IM
MH  - Allergens
MH  - Animals
MH  - Humans
MH  - Occupational Diseases/diagnosis/*immunology
MH  - Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data
MH  - Pets/*immunology
MH  - Respiratory Function Tests
MH  - Respiratory Hypersensitivity/*etiology
MH  - Rodentia/immunology
MH  - Skin Tests
MH  - Surveys and Questionnaires
EDAT- 2011/04/06 06:00
MHDA- 2011/12/13 00:00
CRDT- 2011/04/06 06:00
PHST- 2011/04/06 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2011/04/06 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2011/12/13 00:00 [medline]
AID - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02591.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Allergy. 2011 Aug;66(8):1081-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02591.x. Epub 2011 
      Apr 4.