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J Dutkiewicz

Publications and source records attributed to J Dutkiewicz.

80 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Exposure to dust-borne bacteria in agriculture. I. Environmental studies.

In order to evaluate the exposure of agricultural workers to dust-borne bacteria, microbiological examinations of the air were performed in grain storing and processing plants and in animal houses. Large concentrations of viable microorganisms, ranging from 129.2 to 1289.9 thousands/m3 of air, were found in the rooms contaminated with grain dust and much lower in those contaminated with flour dust (22.6 thousands/m3). Bacteria predominated in the air of grain plants, whereas actinomycetes and fungi were less numerous. The most abundant bacteria were Gram negative rods of the species Erwinia herbicola. Large concentrations of air-borne microorganisms were also found in different animal farms, reaching 225.5 to 595.4 thousands/m3 in hatcheries and 7751.5 thousands/m3 in a broiler house. Staphylococci were most frequently isolated and other common organisms were Corynebacteria and Streptococci. It was concluded that high exposure to dust-borne bacteria creates a hazard to agricultural workers.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Exposure to dust-borne bacteria in agriculture. II. Immunological survey.

In order to investigate whether high exposure to Erwinia herbicola causes sensitization in grain handlers, immunological tests (agargel precipitation, complement fixation, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, and intradermal) with the extracts of these bacteria were performed in different groups of grain workers and in other groups of population. Tests with extracts of grain dust and other microorganisms were also performed. Grain workers showed in all the tests high incidence of positive reactions to E. herbicola, being significantly higher, as compared with unexposed subjects. Different actinomycetal and fungal extracts gave lower percentages of positive reactions. Skin reactions to E. herbicola were significantly correlated with the reactions to grain dust and showed a close relationship with the degree of exposure. The grain workers with respiratory symptoms reacted more frequently to E. herbicola than asymptomatic ones, both in intradermal and precipitation tests. Thus, these bacteria should be considered as a factor increasing risk of the respiratory disorders among grain handlers.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased superoxide anion generation by alveolar macrophages stimulated with antigens associated with organic dusts.

The gaseous phase cultures of alveolar macrophages (AMs) of guinea pig were exposed to the saline extracts of the dust-borne bacteria Micropolyspora faeni (syn. Faenia rectivirgula) and Erwinia herbicola (syn. Enterobacter agglomerans) which have been added at the concentration of 1 microgram/ml to culture medium with or without complement. The effects of exposure on superoxide anion (O2-) production by AMs were assessed by the lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence method. Both extracts caused significant (p less than 0.01) increase in O2- generation by AMs, as assessed by the 161-254% enhancement of chemiluminescence release comparing to control values. The presence of complement augmented the production of O2-, which reached a peak at 3 hrs after initial exposure. The possible significance of the generation of oxygen radicals in pathogenesis of the diseases due to exposure to agricultural dusts loaded with bacterial antigens is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between skin tests and bronchial provocation tests with allergens found in organic dusts in patients with bronchial asthma.

A group of 153 patients with bronchial asthma were subjected to bronchial provocation and intracutaneous tests with allergen from the gram negative bacterium Erwinia herbicola which commonly occurs in organic dusts. Of this group, 80 persons were also examined with both tests with the allergen of Aspergillus fumigatus and 96 persons with the house dust extract. The frequency of positive skin reactions to the tested allergens was much greater than that of the positive bronchial reactions. No significant correlation was found to exist between the frequency and intensity of the bronchial and skin reactions except for delayed and late reactions to Erwinia herbicola. The authors conclude that bronchial provocation tests represent a much more specific and reliable method in the assessment of the clinical status of patients with extrinsic asthma than do skin tests.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemotaxis of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils in response to microbial products derived from organic dust.

Mechanisms of chemotaxis of alveolar macrophages (AMs) and neutrophils (PMNs) in response to microbial products derived from organic dust were studied using the blindwell chemotaxis chamber technique. Seven different known etiological agents causing respiratory symptoms were used for experiments: cell extract and endotoxin from Pantoea agglomerans (synonyms: Erwinia herbicola, Enterobacter agglomerans), cell extracts from Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Aspergillus fumigatus, protease from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus rokko and two preparations of glucans. These agents were evaluated for their ability to direct attraction of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils and stimulation of alveolar macrophages to release chemotactic factors for other alveolar macrophages and neutrophils. The microbial products were able to attract both alveolar macrophages and neutrophils directly in a dose-dependent manner, and the exposure of cultured alveolar macrophages to most agents stimulated chemotactic activity for for alveolar macrophages and neutrophils. The generation and release of this activity by alveolar macrophages may provide a mechanism for the initiation and amplification of inflammatory reactions in the lung after inhalation of organic dust. Results of these in vitro studies may be relevant to the pathogenesis of alveolitis in organic dust-induced lung diseases.

Animals↗