Laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is a common health problem in pharmaceutical research workers. The aetiology of LAA is well established and it is generally accepted that approximately one-third of exposed people may develop symptoms of LAA—see review articles [1,2]. The most common symptoms are rhinitis, conjunctivitis and contact urticaria; ~10% of workers may experience the most serious symptom of asthma. A personal history of allergy to common environmental
allergens (atopy) and exposure to the animals are considered the most important risk factors for the development of allergy. What is of concern is that despite this knowledge, there continues to be a high prevalence of this disease throughout the western world [3–7]. This article will therefore focus on strategies for the prevention of LAA.
- Introduction
- Method
- Epidemiology and clinical features
- Risk factors for LAA
- Implementation in the workplace
- Controlling exposure to animal allergens
- Measurement of airborne allergens
- Effectiveness of control measures
- Health surveillance
- Management of symptoms
- Conclusion
- References