ALLERGENS CAUSING BIRD FANCIERS ASTHMA

The study investigates to what extent bird feathers contain relevant a llergens/antigens involved in bird fancier's asthma. The study group c onsisted of two budgerigar fanciers, two parrot fanciers and one canar y fancier. All subjects complained of asthmatic symptoms, caused by co ntact with their birds, and they showed a significant bronchial hyperr eactivity to acetylcholine. Positive IgE antibody reactions to bird se ra as well as to extracts of feathers were observed in RAST. Well-defi ned major allergenic bands could be detected and identified in the IgE immunoblots with feather extracts as well as with serum proteins of b udgerigar, parrot, pigeon, canary, and hen (mol. mass 20-30 kDa and 67 kDa). The most pronounced bands appeared with the extracts of species to which an exposure had taken place. Weaker IgG-binding patterns wer e also observed. Our results show that inhalable feather dust contains several allergenic components which cross-react with serum allergens/ antigens of the same as well as of other bird species. This emphasizes the significance of bird feathers for immediate-type allergic reactio ns.