Theprevalence ofallergy tolaboratory animals (LAA)was investigated inlaboratory technicians andanimal keepers. Ina questionnaire 41of101technicians reported symptomspro- vokedbyworkwithlaboratory animals. Onclinical investigation 30werefound tohavesymptoms andsigns related tocontact withanimals, andallergy was confirmed byradioallergosorbent tests (RAST)andskin tests in19.Allhadrhinitis and10also hadbronchial asthma. Forty sevenother technicians whohadstopped working withlaboratory animals showed thesame relative numbers ofrespiratory tract symptomsandofconfirmed allergy tolaboratory animals asdidthose currently handling animals. Sevenof23animal keepers hadworkrelated symptoms.LAA symptomswere foundinfourandconfirmed animal allergy intwo.Allfouranimal keepers withanimal related symptomshadrhinitis, none hadbronchial asthma. Positive animal RASTandskin tests were foundonly among people withanimal related symptoms. Ahistory ofatopic disease was commoner among those withpositive animal testresults thanamong those withnegative testresults. No relation between smoking andthedevelopment ofallergy tolaboratory animals emerged. Simple prophylactic measuresoften sufficed tohelp technicians withanimal related symptomstoremain at work.
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