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  • 1
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Pets and vermin are associated with high endotoxin levels in house dust (2001)
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science, Ltd
    Clinical & experimental allergy 31 (2001), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1365-2222
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Background Previous studies have shown that the risk for allergic sensitization is lower in children who grew up on farms and in young adults who were exposed to dogs in early childhood. A higher microbial exposure in general and in particular to endotoxin in early childhood might contribute to this lower risk of atopy.Objective We examined whether the presence of pets or vermin in the home is associated with higher endotoxin concentrations in settled house dust.Methods House dust was sampled in a standardized manner on the living room floors of 454 homes of German children aged 5–10 years (participation rate 61%). Endotoxin was assessed with a quantitative kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) method. Associations between endotoxin levels, pets and vermin are presented as ratios of the crude and confounder adjusted geometric means (means ratios) in the category of study vs. a reference category using multiple linear regression models.Results Endotoxin concentrations in living room floor dust sampled in homes without pets and vermin were lower (1246 ng per square meter, 1519 ng endotoxin/g dust, n = 157) than those sampled in homes with pets or vermin (2267 ng per square meter, 2200 ng endotoxin/g dust, n = 296). After adjustment for city of residence, season of dust sampling, age of the building and story of the dwelling, means ratios for endotoxin expressed per gram of dust were statistically significantly increased for dog (1.64, 95% CI 1.09–2.46), for cat (1.50, 95% CI 1.03–2.18) and for cockroach (3.01, 95% CI 1.37–6.60), whereas no major statistically significant associations were found for other pets, ants and mice.Conclusion Keeping a dog or a cat in the home is consistent with higher exposure to endotoxin and might therefore contribute to the lower risk of atopy in later life.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2001.01220.x
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  • 2
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Bacterial and fungal agents in house dust and wheeze in children: the PARSIFAL study (2005)
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science Ltd
    Clinical & experimental allergy 35 (2005), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1365-2222
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Background Growing up on a farm and an anthroposophic lifestyle are associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood. This might be related to increased inhalatory exposure to microbial agents.Objective To assess the association between microbial agents in house dust and atopic wheeze in farm children, Steiner school children and reference children.Methods Levels of bacterial endotoxin, fungal β(1,3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in mattress and living room floor dust were measured in a population of 270 atopic (=Phadiatop-positive) children with self-reported wheezing, including 168 current atopic wheezers, and 441 non-atopic, non-symptomatic controls. These children were selected from a cross-sectional study in five European countries.Results In the study population as a whole, average levels of mattress dust endotoxin, EPS and glucans were slightly (1.1–1.2-fold; P〈0.10) higher in control children than in atopic wheezers. Atopic wheeze was related to mattress levels of endotoxin, EPS and glucans in farm and farm-reference children. However, when adjusting for group (farm vs. farm-reference children), the associations became non-significant whereas the group effect remained. No associations between atopic wheeze and microbial agents were observed in Steiner and Steiner-reference children. For current atopic wheeze, the farm effect became non-significant after adjustment for microbial agent levels.Conclusion Not only bacterial endotoxin but also mould components might offer some protection against atopic wheeze in children. However, the protective effect of being raised on a farm was largely unexplained by the mattress microbial agent levels measured in this study.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02339.x
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  • 3
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Bacterial and fungal components in house dust of farm children, Rudolf Steiner school children and reference children – the PARSIFAL Study (2005)
    Oxford, UK : Munksgaard International Publishers
    Allergy 60 (2005), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1398-9995
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Background:  Growing up on a farm and an anthroposophic lifestyle are associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood. It has been suggested that the enhanced exposure to endotoxin is an important protective factor of farm environments. Little is known about exposure to other microbial components on farms and exposure in anthroposophic families.Objective:  To assess the levels and determinants of bacterial endotoxin, mould β(1,3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in house dust of farm children, Steiner school children and reference children.Methods:  Mattress and living room dust was collected in the homes of 229 farm children, 122 Steiner children and 60 and 67 of their respective reference children in five European countries. Stable dust was collected as well. All samples were analysed in one central laboratory. Determinants were assessed by questionnaire.Results:  Levels of endotoxin, EPS and glucans per gram of house dust in farm homes were 1.2- to 3.2-fold higher than levels in reference homes. For Steiner children, 1.1- to 1.6-fold higher levels were observed compared with their reference children. These differences were consistently found across countries, although mean levels varied considerably. Differences between groups and between countries were also significant after adjustment for home and family characteristics.Conclusion:  Farm children are not only consistently exposed to higher levels of endotoxin, but also to higher levels of mould components. Steiner school children may also be exposed to higher levels of microbial agents, but differences with reference children are much less pronounced than for farm children. Further analyses are, however, required to assess the association between exposure to these various microbial agents and allergic and airway diseases in the PARSIFAL population.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00748.x
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  • 4
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Farm residence and exposures and the risk of allergic diseases in New Zealand children (2002)
    Oxford, UK : Munksgaard International Publishers
    Allergy 57 (2002), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1398-9995
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Background: Studies in Europe have reported a reduced prevalence of allergy in farmers' children. We aimed to determine if there is a similar reduction in allergy among New Zealand farm children.Methods: Two hundred and ninety-three children participated (60%) aged 7–10 years, from selected schools in small towns and the surrounding rural area . Skin prick tests (SPT) to eight common allergens were performed. Parents completed questionnaires about allergic and infectious diseases, place of residence, exposure to animals, and diet, and they provided dust from the living-room floor. Endotoxin was measured using an Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay and Der p 1 using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).Results: Current farm abode was found to increase the risk of having symptoms associated with allergy, but not SPT positivity. Independent inverse associations were found for early-life exposures: at least weekly consumption of yoghurt with hayfever (odds ratio (OR) = 0.3, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.1–0.7) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.2–0.7); any unpasteurized milk consumption with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) (OR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.8); cats inside or outside with hayfever (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.1–1.0) and AEDS (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.8); dogs inside or outside with asthma (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.8); and pigs with SPT positivity (OR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.9).Conclusions: Despite finding a protective effect of early-life animal exposures, we found a greater prevalence of allergic disease on farms.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2002.t01-1-23644.x
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  • 5
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Concentrations of domestic mite and pet allergens and endotoxin in Palestine (2004)
    Oxford, UK : Munksgaard International Publishers
    Allergy 59 (2004), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1398-9995
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Background:  A few studies have compared indoor allergens and endotoxin levels between urban and rural settings as important determinants for asthma and atopy in children. However, no study was done in the Middle East or investigated refugee camps.Methods:  As part of a nested case–control study in Ramallah in 2001, we measured house dust mite and pet allergens, as well as endotoxin in dust collected from 110 children's mattresses and living room floors.Results:  Geometric mean (GM) concentrations of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p1) antigen were 4.48 μg/g in mattress dust and 1.23 μg/g floor dust. The highest Der p1 levels were seen in refugee camps. Concentrations of Dermatophagoides farinae antigen (Der f1) were much lower (〈0.08 μg/g dust). Concentrations of cat allergen (Fel d1) were highest in villages, and those of dog allergen (Can f1) were highest in mattresses from cities and in floor dust from refugee camps. GM of endotoxin levels were 25.7 EU/mg in mattress dust and 49 EU/mg dust in floor dust.Conclusions:  Concentrations of Der p1 were high compared to Western European countries, but were lower compared to UK and Australia. Levels of pet allergens were lower than in Western Europe. Endotoxin levels were higher compared to developed countries. Indoor environmental factors such as dampness seemed to be important determinants for allergen and endotoxin, but living habits such as lack of mattress cover appeared unimportant.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00441.x
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  • 6
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    The effect of storage on allergen and microbial agent levels in frozen house dust (2003)
    Oxford, UK : Munksgaard International Publishers
    Allergy 58 (2003), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1398-9995
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Background: House dust samples collected for exposure studies are often stored for variable time periods until analysis. However, there is currently no information on the effects of dust storage on the content of biocontaminants. Therefore, associations were analysed between the levels of mite allergens (Der p 1, Der f 1), cat allergen (Fel d 1) and microbial components (endotoxin, β(1→3)-glucan) on the one hand and the storage duration of dust samples at −20°C on the other hand.Methods: Within the framework of a study on the influences of INdoor factors and Genetics on Asthma (INGA), dust samples were collected from living room floors between June 1995 and August 1998 and extracted according to a standardized protocol. The concentrations of Der p 1, Der f 1, Fel d 1 and β(1→3)-glucan were determined with specific enzyme immunoassays. Endotoxin content was quantified using a chromogenic kinetic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test. All concentrations were expressed per gram of dustResults: Dust samples (n = 1236) were obtained from 655 homes in Hamburg, Hettstedt, Zerbst and Bitterfeld. Storage duration (range 8–298 days) was grouped into four categories (≤ 60 d; 61–90 d; 91–120 d; 〉 120 d). After adjustment for city of residence and season of dust sampling, means ratios comparing categories 2–4 to the first category were not statistically significant for Der p 1, Der f 1, endotoxin and β(1→3 glucan). However, Fel d 1 concentrations significantly declined with increased storage times of dust samples.Conclusions: Storage of house dust at −20°C for up to 10 months has no effect on mite allergen, endotoxin and β(1→3)-glucan levels. A potential loss of Fel d 1 during storage of frozen dust samples needs further investigations by repeated measurements of allergen in identical dust samples.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2003.00036.x
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  • 7
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    (1→3)-β-D-glucans and respiratory health: a review of the scientific evidence (2005)
    Oxford, UK : Munksgaard International Publishers
    Indoor air 15 (2005), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1600-0668
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Surveying , Medicine
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00333.x
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Determinants of endotoxin levels in carpets in New Zealand homes (2003)
    Oxford, UK : Munksgaard International Publishers
    Indoor air 13 (2003), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1600-0668
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Surveying , Medicine
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0668.2003.00187.x
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