Respiratory diseases and allergic sensitization in swine breeders: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The daily occupation as a swine breeder involves exposure to several bacterial components and organic dusts and inhalation of a large amount of allergens.

Objective: To investigate the risk of respiratory diseases and atopy in swine breeders compared with the general population living in the same area.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in an agricultural area of northern Italy that enrolled a random sample of resident male breeders and non-breeders.