Gravimetric Determination of Dust and Antigen Exposure in Pigeon Breeders

Pigeon fanciers are known to develop lung disorders as a result of the inhalation of pigeon-derived material but the precise pathogenesis of the disease and exposure characteristics await description. As an initial step in the investigation of dust and antigen exposure in this group, airborne samples were obtained in 21 isolated pigeon lofts using standard low volume pumps and GFA filters. After weighing, the filter was subjected to immunological analysis by enzyme immunoassay. Pigeon number within the loft only correlated with the total inhalable dust in the undisturbed loft (R = 0.481, P = 0.041) and was not related to respirable dust before or during cleaning. Similarly, airborne antigen was unrelated to the pigeon number. This antigen rose significantly during the pigeon moult but overall, the dust levels were unaltered throughout the year.