Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in Peat Moss Processing Plant Workers

Abstract

A nonsmoking 54-yr-old man, employed in a peat moss packaging plant, developed dyspnea and recurrent fever. The diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) was made. Thirteen of 14 coworkers and 13 nonexposed control subjects were studied. Five workers were nonsmokers, two were minimal smokers, and six were smokers. HP was found in another subject. Monocillium sp. and Penicillium citreonigrum, 4.6 x 10(7) CFU/g, were found in the peat moss. Three nonsmokers, the two minimal smokers (including the subject with HP), and the index case had antibodies to these microorganisms; none of the six heavy smokers had antibodies. Serum TNF-alpha was higher in the workers than in the control subjects (0.930 +/- 0.177 versus 0. 350 +/- 0.076). Three of the four asymptomatic seropositive workers and two seronegative smokers were further evaluated. All three seropositive workers had normal lung functions and CT but they all had a lymphocytic alveolitis (30, 34, and 68% lymphocytes in their bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL]). The smokers had normal lung functions, CT, and percentage of BAL lymphocytes (3 and 13%). This study identified a previously unrecognized work environment that can lead to HP and documented a protective effect of smoking on the response to antigens.

Characterization of Bioaerosols from Dairy Barns: Reconstructing the Puzzle of Occupational Respiratory Diseases by Using Molecular Approaches

“…We actually found up to 10 7 16S rRNA genes of S. rectivirgula per m 3 of air in this work environment. Thus, we determined if plasma of workers from the 13 dairy barns visited contained IgG specific to this antigen, a method often used by our team to confirm exposure (10,12,32). A total of 85.7% of plasma samples from control subjects had a negative IgG response to S. rectivirgula, compared to 62.1% for samples from dairy barn workers.…”

Farmers' Exposure to Airborne Microorganisms in Composting Swine Confinement Buildings

“…(3) Among peat moss processing plant workers, some hypersensitivity pneumonitis cases have been diagnosed in Canada, however. (23) The fungal genera varied among the swine confinement buildings. Nevertheless, the predominant fungi (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Scopulariopsis spp., and yeasts) were also the most frequently recovered in traditional swine houses in this and other studies.…”

Significance of precipitins and asymptomatic lymphocytic alveolitis: a 20‐yr follow-up

“…However, a significant proportion, especially those who had positive precipitins, had a lymphocytic alveolitis defined as w20% lymphocytes in their BAL fluid [7]. A similar finding has been reported in asymptomatic sero-positive pigeon breeders and peat moss factory workers [8,9]. The long-term significance of asymptomatic lymphocytic alveolitis is unknown.…”