Occupational respiratory allergy in peach crop workers.

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Occupational Health
• Plant Biochemistry

Background:

• Occupational respiratory diseases linked to peach tree crops are occasionally reported.
• Sensitization to pollen and leaf proteins is a suspected cause.
• This study investigates 37 workers with respiratory symptoms from peach tree exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of occupational respiratory symptoms in peach tree crop workers.
• To identify specific allergens in peach leaves responsible for sensitization.
• To confirm the clinical relevance of peach leaf sensitization.

Main Methods:

• Skin prick tests and specific IgE determinations using peach leaf and branch extracts.
• SDS-PAGE-immunoblotting of leaf extract with patient sera and anti-Pru p 3.
• Inhibition assays with recombinant Pru p 3 (rPru p 3) and pollen profilins.
• Specific bronchial challenge tests (SBCT) with peach leaf extract.

Main Results:

• 86% of patients showed sensitization to peach leaf extract.
• Symptoms like rhinoconjunctivitis (100%) and asthma (67.5%) occurred during leaf-present seasons.
• IgE-binding bands in patient sera suggested sensitization to peach leaf lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) and profilins.

Conclusions:

• Sensitization to peach leaves is identified as the cause of occupational respiratory symptoms.
• Peach leaf LTPs and profilins are implicated as allergens.
• Further research into specific peach leaf allergens is warranted.