PULMONARY REACTIONS TO ORGANIC DUST EXPOSURES - DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANIMAL-MODEL

Acute inhalation of organic dusts such as cotton, hay. silage, grain, animal confinement, or compost dust can result in illness characterize d by fever, pulmonary inflammation, chest tightness, and airway obstru ction. These agricultural materials are complex mixtures of plant, bac terial, and fungal products. Elucidation of the time course of disease onset, the mechanisms of disease progression. and the identity of eti ologic agents is essential for effective prevention and treatment. Tow ard this end, animal models for acute organic dust-induced reactions h ave been developed and characterized. Information concerning the appli cability of various animal models to humans and progress toward elucid ation of causative agents and mechanisms of action is presented.