Laboratory animal allergy explained

Laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is an occupational disease of laboratory animal technicians and scientists.^{[1] [2]} It manifests as an allergic response to animal urine, specifically the major urinary proteins (Mups) of rodents, and can lead to the development of asthma.^[3] A study of 5641 workers in Japan who were exposed to laboratory animals found 23.1% had one or more allergic symptoms; globally the prevalence among at risk workers is estimated between 11 and 30% ^[4] According to the National Institutes of Health, prevention of animal allergy depends on the control of allergens in the work environment. This involves a combination of measures to eliminate or control allergen exposure, including engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.^[5]

The protein product of the mouse Mup17 gene,^[6] known as Mus m 1, Ag1 or MA1,^[7] accounts for much of the allergenic properties of mouse urine. Similarly, the product of the rat Mup13 gene, Rat n 1, is also a potent human allergen.^[3] One study found that two-thirds of laboratory workers who had developed asthmatic reactions to animals had antibodies to Rat n 1.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Gordon S, Preece R . Prevention of laboratory animal allergy . Occupational Medicine . 53 . 6 . 371–7 . September 2003 . 14514903 . 10.1093/occmed/kqg117. free .
2. Wood RA . Laboratory animal allergens . ILAR Journal . 42 . 1 . 12–6 . 2001 . 11123185 . 10.1093/ilar.42.1.12. free .
3. Book: Lockey . Richard . Dennis K. . Ledford . Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy . Volume 21 of Clinical allergy and immunology . 201–218 . Mammalian Allergens . Informa Health Care . 2008 . 978-1-4200-6197-0.
4. Aoyama K, Ueda A, Manda F, Matsushita T, Ueda T, Yamauchi C . Allergy to laboratory animals: an epidemiological study . British Journal of Industrial Medicine . 49 . 1 . 41–7 . January 1992 . 1733454 . 1039233 . 10.1136/oem.49.1.41.
5. The National Institutes of Health Laboratory Animal Allergy Prevention Program http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/pdf/LAAPP.pdf
6. Garg LC, Narang N . Suppression of ouabain-insensitive K-ATPase activity in rabbit nephron segments during chronic hyperkalemia . Renal Physiology and Biochemistry . 12 . 5–6 . 295–301 . 1989 . 2533699 . 10.1159/000173206.
7. Lorusso JR, Moffat S, Ohman JL . Immunologic and biochemical properties of the major mouse urinary allergen (Mus m 1) . The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology . 78 . 5 Pt 1 . 928–37 . November 1986 . 3097107 . 10.1016/0091-6749(86)90242-3.
8. Platts-Mills TA, Longbottom J, Edwards J, Cockroft A, Wilkins S . Occupational asthma and rhinitis related to laboratory rats: serum IgG and IgE antibodies to the rat urinary allergen . The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology . 79 . 3 . 505–15 . March 1987 . 3819230 . 10.1016/0091-6749(87)90369-1.