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Exposure levels of animal allergens, endotoxin, and β-(1,3)-glucan on a university campus of veterinary medicine.
Abstract: The study aimed to determine the allergen, endotoxin and β-(1,3)-glucan concentrations at various areas on a university campus of veterinary medicine. Methods: Dust samples were collected four times a year for three years using electrostatic dust collectors (EDC) at 25 different locations on a campus of veterinary medicine and in laboratories of inorganic chemistry as a control area representing animal-free environment. Major animal allergens from dog, cat, horse, cattle and mouse, domestic mite (DM) allergens, and β-(1,3)-glucan were measured using enzyme immunoassays and endotoxin using the limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Seasonal, annual and local influences on exposure levels were analyzed using Bayesian mixed models. Results: With the exception of mouse allergens, all other determinants were found in almost all locations on the campus and in the control area, but in up to 10.000-fold variable concentrations. By far the highest levels of feline, canine, equine and bovine allergens were detected in buildings where the respective species were examined. The highest levels of mouse and DM allergens, β-(1,3)-glucan and endotoxin occurred together and were associated with locations where large animals were present. In buildings without animals, allergen levels were considerably lower but still elevated at several locations compared to the control area, especially for dog and horse allergens, and β-(1,3)-glucan. Significant seasonal effects were observed for dog, cat, horse and DM allergens, and β-(1,3)-glucan. Variations between years were less apparent than between seasons (except for β-(1,3)-glucan). Conclusions: The strongest influencing factor on the concentration of mammalian allergens was the presence of the corresponding animal at the collection site. Seasonal influence on allergen concentrations was observed, while the overall exposure remained constant over the years. At locations with horses, elevated levels of mite allergens, endotoxin, and β-(1,3)-glucan can be expected, probably due to passive transfer from stable environment.
Copyright: © 2023 Zahradnik et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Publication Date: 2023-07-13 PubMed ID: 37440536PubMed Central: PMC10343150DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288522Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Allergies
- Animal Health
- Animal Studies
- Bayesian Analysis
- Disease Transmission
- Endotoxin
- Environmental Stressors
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Immunology
- In Vivo
- Laboratory Methods
- Pathogens
- Public Health
- Seasonal Variation
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
Summary
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The research paper conducted a study to assess the concentrations of various allergens, endotoxins, and β-(1,3)-glucan within a veterinary medical university campus. The findings indicated that the presence of specific animals greatly influenced the concentration of respective allergens, with also a seasonal influence observed. At locations with horses, there were expectedly higher levels of mite allergens, endotoxins, and β-(1,3)-glucan, likely due to transfer from the stables.
Methodology
- The study measured concentrations of major animal allergens like those from dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and mice along with domestic mite (DM) allergens and β-(1,3)-glucan in various locations on a veterinary medicine campus.
- The scientists collected dust samples four times a year for three years using electrostatic dust collectors at 25 different locations on the campus and at inorganic chemistry laboratories (which served as control points representing an animal-free environment).
- All measurements were conducted using enzyme immunoassays for the allergens and β-(1,3)-glucan, and the limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay for endotoxins.
- The study’s data was then analyzed using Bayesian mixed models to study the influence of seasonal, annual and local factors on exposure levels.
Results
- Apart from mouse allergens, all other allergens were found in almost all examined locations with noticeably variable concentrations.
- Notably, the highest levels of allergens specific to cats, dogs, horses, and bovines were found in buildings where these species were examined.
- Locations that housed large animals recorded the highest levels of mouse and DM allergens, β-(1,3)-glucan, and endotoxins.
- In locations without animals, the concentrations of allergens were significantly lower but still elevated in comparison to the control locations. This was particularly the case for dog and horse allergens and β-(1,3)-glucan.
- The study identified a significant seasonal influence on the concentrations of allergens originating from dogs, cats, horses, and DM, as well as β-(1,3)-glucan. The analysis found less variation between years than between seasons.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that the strongest determinant of mammalian allergen concentrations was the presence of the corresponding animal at the collection site.
- While there were observable seasonal influences on allergen concentrations, the overall exposure remained stable over the years.
- In areas where horses were present, mite allergens, endotoxins, and β-(1,3)-glucan concentrations were expectedly higher, probably due to passive transfer from the stable environment.
Cite This Article
APA
Zahradnik E, Sander I, Lotz A, Liebers V, Thullner I, Tacke S, Raulf M.
(2023).
Exposure levels of animal allergens, endotoxin, and β-(1,3)-glucan on a university campus of veterinary medicine.
PLoS One, 18(7), e0288522.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288522 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
- Unfallkasse Hessen (UKH), Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Veterinary Medicine Clinic, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany.
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cats
- Dogs
- Horses
- Cattle
- Glucans
- Endotoxins / analysis
- Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis
- Bayes Theorem
- Universities
- Allergens
- Dust
- Mammals
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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