Control strategies for aeroallergens in an animal facility.

Background: Prevalence of the occupational disease laboratory animal allergy could be reduced if aeroallergen reduction strategies are identified.

Objective: To reduce worker exposure to Mus m 1, an allergen from laboratory mice, the effect of filter cage tops, increased room ventilation, negatively pressurized ventilated cages, and ventilated cage-changing tables were evaluated.

Methods: Aeroallergen was collected in the ambient air and in the breathing zone and quantified by using a competitive immunoassay.

Susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases in a sexually transmitted disease clinic population.

Background And Objective: Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics often serve a population that has low medical care utilization. The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of an STD clinic population to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study of immunization practices and susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases was undertaken by enrolling consecutive patients attending an STD clinic.

Air quality in an animal facility: particulates, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds.

Concentrations of ammonia, volatile organic compounds, particles, and mouse allergen were measured in an animal facility. Ammonia concentrations averaged less than 1 ppm, below any health-based standards. The concentrations of volatile organic compounds were in the 5-15 micrograms/m3 range.

The effect of relative humidity on mouse allergen levels in an environmentally controlled mouse room.

To determine the effect of humidity on the levels of the mouse allergen Mus m 1, an experimental animal room was constructed to control environmental variables. The sex, strain, age, and number of mice was constant in the room, so that the average daily production of Mus m 1 would not vary greatly. Six different levels of relative humidity from 15% to 65% were maintained for a minimum of a week each.

Distribution of airborne mouse allergen in a major mouse breeding facility.

Background: Occupational allergy to mice is a major cause of disability among workers in mouse breeding and research facilities. Efforts to prevent and treat allergy require a detailed knowledge of exposure levels to allergen.

Objective: This study was designed to quantitate the level of major mouse allergen (Mus m I) in central room air and immediate breathing zones under a variety of working conditions.