Chest
Volume 80, Issue 1, Supplement, July 1981, Pages 76S-78S
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The Pathogenetic Role of Inhaled Microbial Material in Pulmonary Mycotoxicosis as Demonstrated in an Animal Model

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Materials and Methods

PM dust samples were obtained from the silo either after the silo had been opened, or during the “uncapping” process. One sample was obtained from an adjacent silo filled and capped with the same material at the same time as the silo in which a father and two sons were exposed and became ill This sample was used for the animal exposures. Control samples were obtained from silos in which no one became ill when opened.

Extracts of silage were prepared by extracting 100 g in water for four days,

Results

Immunization had little effect on the inflammatory response to aqueous extracts of silage dust (Table 1). There was a significant difference in the pathologic index between the exposed and unexposed lung, but there was no difference when the group exposed to the water extracts (11.33 ± 3.25) were compared to the group receiving particulate suspension (12.22 ± 2.64). The index in the immunized group receiving the water extract was 14.25 ± 4.35. Methenamine silver deposition was associated only

Discussion

This study was a preliminary investigation of the nature of the forage dust implicated in the production of PM. Clinical observations of this disease support the hypothesis that this is not a variant of farmer's lung disease and does not require prior sensitization. Less than one-half of the individuals with PM have antibodies to the thermophilic actinomycetes. Although this percentage is higher than the normal farming population,56 it is not as high as the farmer's lung population.

The

Discussion

Dr. Petty: Are there therapeutic implications to separating these diseases, other than the elimination of the offending agent?

Dr. Marx: Yes. The mycotoxicosis is handled by symptomatic treatment for one to two days. Farmer's lung, on the other hand, is treatable and more importantly has a lot of financial implications for the individual farmer.

Dr. Salvaggio: Is the alternative pathway for complement being activated?

Dr. Marx: Yes. In addition, there are enzymes present in this material that can

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Lovelace Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM. This work was supported in part by a Grant No. HL-15389 from the Wisconsin Pulmonary Specialized Center of Research and by the Marshfield Medical Foundation, Inc.

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