High prevalence of immunoglobulin E [IgE] sensitization among sisal [Agave sisalana] processing workers in Tanzania.
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Date
2008-09-13
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
Abstract
Abstract: Purpose: Allergic sensitization among workers exposed to sisal is scarcely
documented. We examined whether sisal processing is associated with IgE sensitization and its relationship to the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among Tanzanian
processors. Methods: 138 sisal exposed workers and 78 non-exposed controls were skin
prick tested (SPT) using dry sisal extract and fresh sisal sap. Sera from a subset of 43
participants were analyzed for total and sisal specifi c IgE. SPT wheal size, prevalence
of positive SPTs and adjusted relative risk (RR) for sisal sensitization were determined
and compared between exposed and controls. Prevalences for respiratory symptoms were
compared between sensitized and non-sensitized sisal workers. Results: Signifi cantly
higher prevalence of positive SPTs to sisal was found among 74% of sisal workers compared to 17% among controls. Compared to controls, the RR of sensitization to sisal
was 4 times higher (95% CI; 2.4–6.7) among exposed workers. All exposed workers had
elevated IgE levels (>100 kU/l) and 27% of tested sera had elevated sisal specifi c IgE. A
high prevalence of respiratory symptoms was found in both sensitized and non-sensitized
sisal workers. Conclusion: Sisal processing is associated with increased risk of IgE sensitization, but its clinical implication is not obvious.
Description
Keywords
Allergy, IgE sensitization, Sisal
Citation
Kayumba, A.V., Van-Do, T., Florvaag, E., Bratveit, M., Baste, V., Mashalla, Y., Eduard, W. and Moen, B.E., 2008. High prevalence of immunoglobulin E [IgE] sensitization among sisal [Agave sisalana] processing workers in Tanzania. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 15(2).