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Type III hypersensitivity reaction in mushroom growers
1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Mushroom workers exposed to Pleurotus floridae may develop respiratory symptoms due to hypersensitivity. Many growers showed precipitin antibodies against P. floridae, indicating an immune response to this specific mushroom antigen.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Mushroom cultivation, particularly of Pleurotus floridae, can expose workers to environmental agents.
- Respiratory symptoms, including mushroom worker's lung, are a known risk in this occupation.
- Type III hypersensitivity reactions are suspected in symptomatic mushroom growers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate respiratory symptoms in Pleurotus floridae mushroom growers.
- To identify potential allergens and immune responses in affected workers.
- To assess the prevalence of hypersensitivity to Pleurotus floridae antigens.
Main Methods:
- Questionnaires administered to 308 mushroom workers in Pocheon, Kyunggi Province.
- Symptomatic workers underwent CBC, chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, and skin testing.
- Precipitin antibody tests against Pleurotus floridae extract were performed using counterimmunoelectrophoresis.
Main Results:
- 23 out of 308 workers (7.5%) reported respiratory symptoms (cough, sputum, dyspnea).
- Two cases exhibited increased interstitial lung markings on chest X-rays.
- 16 symptomatic workers (73.9%) had detectable precipitin antibodies against Pleurotus floridae.
Conclusions:
- Pleurotus floridae antigen is a likely cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in mushroom growers.
- Respiratory symptoms in these workers are associated with specific immune responses to P. floridae.
- Further research into occupational respiratory diseases in mushroom cultivation is warranted.