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The extracellular antigens of Micropolyspora faeni: their significance in farmer's lung disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

S. M. Fletcher ,
C. J. M. Rondle  and
I. G. Murray
S. M. Fletcher
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, and Mycological Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Service, both at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London. W.C.1
C. J. M. Rondle
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, and Mycological Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Service, both at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London. W.C.1
I. G. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, and Mycological Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Service, both at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London. W.C.1
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Summary

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A serological analysis of the extracellular antigens of Micropolyspora faeni by immunodiffusion with a combination of sera revealed 29 individual antigens. A survey was made of the incidence of precipitins to the antigens in sera from patients with clinical farmer's lung disease (FLD) and other respiratory diseases. Precipitating antibody was found in 75 % of farmer's lung cases and in 20 % of other cases who had been exposed to the same environment. More precipitin reactions were seen in sera from severe forms of FLD than from milder forms. The distribution of precipitins to individual antigens was not significantly affected by severity of disease.

Most of the patients with precipitins to M. faeni, but without the symptoms of FLD, were suffering from mild or moderate symptoms of other respiratory diseases with a history of chronic onset of symptoms. The distribution of precipitins to individual antigens in this group was similar to that in clinical FLD patients but the incidence was considerably lower.

The significance of these results is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , September 1970 , pp. 401 - 409
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

References

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