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Host determinants for the development of allergy in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals

¹ Dept of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, Montreal and ² Joint Depts of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

CORRESPONDENCE: D. Gautrin, Dept of Chest Medicine, Sacré-Coeur Hospital, 5400 Gouin Blvd West, Montreal, Canada, H4J 1C5. Fax: 1514 3383123

Keywords: bronchial responsiveness, immunological sensitization, occupational asthma

Received: March 26, 2001
Accepted September 5, 2001

This study was supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada (grant no MT-12256). D. Gautrin is a research scholar with the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ).

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether determinants of work-related symptoms, skin sensitization and diseases differ between atopic and nonatopic subjects starting a career with exposure to laboratory animals (LA).

A cohort of 417 apprentices in animal-health technology was prospectively followed during 32 or 44 months. The effect on the study outcomes of variables derived from questionnaire, skin reactivity, and lung function assessments at baseline were compared in atopic (n=212) and nonatopic (n=183) subjects.

Eighty-five incident cases of sensitization to a LA-derived allergen were identified, 67 among atopic and 18 among nonatopic subjects. Baseline rhinitis symptoms in contact with pets and skin sensitization to pets were associated with the development of work-related rhinoconjunctivitis (RC) symptoms in atopic subjects, whereas perannual rhinitis symptoms and having a PC₂₀ (provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second) 32 mg·mL^–1 were associated in nonatopic subjects. Baseline rhinitis symptoms on contact with pets and a PC₂₀ value 32 mg·mL^–1 were significant determinants for developing sensitization to a specific allergen in atopic subjects only. Finally, baseline rhinitis symptoms in contact with pets and perannual rhinitis symptoms were associated with the development of occupational RC in atopic subjects, whereas in nonatopic subjects this was associated with having a PC₂₀ value 32 mg·mL^–1.

In conclusion, the determinants for the development of specific skin sensitization, symptoms and disease are different between atopic and nonatopic apprentices starting occupational exposure to laboratory-animal-derived allergens.