Occupational asthma information for chickens

Hi, I am an Occupational Health nurse working for a poultry producer. I see people who work in the hatchery, where the chicks are hatched out and also those from the farms where the chicks are grown on. Can you tell me please whether it is chick fluff (rudamentory feathers) or chick urine on the chick fluff in the air that can cause asthma. Also if it is a cause of asthma is it an irritant or a sensitiser?? Are feathers a sensitiser or an irritant? Thanks for your help Regards Annie Andeson

Occupational Asthma, Specialist, 2/20/2006, 2/20/2006,

Occupational asthma in chicken production is not frequently reported, as far as I know chicken feathers have not been implicated as a cause. I have seen a few chicken rearers with occupational asthma, the causes have been the mites which infest the chicken feathers (particularly high exposures during catching), the feed, and perhaps the biocides used between batches. All of these are most likely to be allergic. Bird droppings are the commonest cause of allergic alveolitis, but chickens are a rare cause of this, perhaps because the main source is the bloom covering the feathers, needed to keep feathers in top flight condition (not a priority for chicken in confinement); pigeons are the commonest cause. Chicken dropping also contain a lot of endotoxin, the probable cause of organic toxic dust syndrome. This is non-allergic, and often presents with cough and sputum, but can mimic asthma. It is more commonly reported in swine confinement buildings and refuse workers exposed to composting vegetation. Egg proteins can also cause allergic asthma, but as far as I know have never been implicated in hatcheries. The main source has been sprayed egg protein in food production. If you are worried about workers with possible work-related symptoms, I would investigate them to see whether they have occupational asthma, starting with occupational type peak flow monitoring. I would be happy to look at the results for you. I would welcome comments from others who know more about poultry rearing than I do.

2/20/2006