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Occupational asthma caused by champignon flies
Author(s) -
Cimarra M,
MartínezCócera C,
Chamorro M,
Cabrera M,
Robledo T,
Alonso A,
Castellano A,
Bartolome JM,
Lombardero M
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00015.x
Subject(s) - provocation test , immunoglobulin e , occupational asthma , asthma , medicine , immunology , biology , pathology , antibody , alternative medicine
Background: Occupational bronchial asthma in mushroom (champignon) workers is unusual, although reports on it appeared in 1938 and 1951; we have not found any others since those dates. Here we report the case of a 52‐year‐old man who works as a champignon cultivator. He suffered rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma attacks whenever he entered the champignon culture caves. We studied flies as a possible antigen source. We collected these insects from the growing sites in order to identify them, and then prepare an extract; the samples turned out to be of two families of insects of the order Diptera, 98% from the Phoridae family (Brachycera suborder) and 2% from the Sciaridae (Nematocera suborder). Methods: Skin prick tests, conjunctival provocation tests, serum specific IgE, specific IgE‐binding fractions in immunoblotting, and monitoring of PEFR (at work and off work) were performed. Results: IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity to these flies was demonstrated by skin prick test, conjunctival provocation test, serum specific IgE, and IgE‐binding fractions in immunoblotting. Monitoring of PEFR both at work and off work showed a clear relationship between symptoms, or fall in PEFR, and the workplace. Conclusions: We report the case of a patient suffering from asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis caused by hypersensitivity to fly proteins.