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Two newer β-lactam-containing structures, a clavam, clavulanic acid, and a carbapenem, MM22383, have been studied for their intrinsic immunogenicity and allergenicity. Clavulanic acid has a very low immunogenic and allergenic potential, in contrast to MM22383 which is a contact sensitiser in guinea pigs and an immunogen in rabbits. Evidence for the allergenic potential of MM22383 in man through occupational exposure is also presented. Consideration of the chemistry of these two compounds with respect to their reactivity with protein provides a rationale for the marked difference in their behaviour. The importance of stable hapten-protein conjugates and epitope density is discussed in relation to immunogenicity.

Summary A survey of the prevalence of laboratory animal allergy to rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits among sixty‐nine animal workers and 308 other subjects on a pharmaceutical research site revealed a 22% prevalence of laboratory animal allergy among the animal workers. The overall prevalence of atopy was 67% in persons with allergy to laboratory animals. This was significantly greater than the 31% prevalence in other animal workers. Skin‐prick tests and specific IgG and IgE assays to urinary protein extracts strongly correlated with the occurrence of laboratory‐animal allergy and would appear to have diagnostic value. However, a number of clinically diagnosed laboratory‐ani‐mal‐allergy subjects gave no evidence of immunological response to the urinary allergens and wider diagnoses may have to be applied in these cases.