Rawi, Shahmira Md (2016) Rat allergens exposure level of animal house personnel: from work to home exposure. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia. (Submitted)
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Abstract
The allergic symptoms towards laboratory animals such as rats and mice have been reported since 1950’s. Rat allergens represent the major occupational disease especially among animal handlers due to direct exposure to rats. Allergens from rats can cause sensitization of IgE-mediated sensitivity and hence increase the risk of disease. This study reported the concentration of rat allergen among animal house personnel from different locations which were Animal Research and Service Centre (ARASC), Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Penang and Animal Research Complex (ARC), Advance Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), Bertam. The aim of this study was to determine the direct and the take home exposure level of rat allergens (Rat n 1) among the animal house personnel compared with the management workers from USM Health campus. Three sampling techniques were used to determine the exposure levels; airborne, wipe and dust vacuum sampling. Airborne sample was collected using sampling pump attached to filter loaded sampler for two to three hours during working. Wipe samples were taken at mid-shift and post-shift for both hands and shoes. For take home study, vacuum dust sampling and doorknob wipes were taken at houses of animal house personnel to compare with the management workers’ exposure levels. In addition, the participants were also given questionnaire. ELISA kit Rat nl RUP-6/RUP-1 was used as the detection method of rat allergen. Result shows that there was an increase in the workplace exposure level between mid-shift (median 0.022, IQR 0.022 - 1.550) and post-shift (median 0.02250, IQR 0.022 - 2.942) samples however non-significant. Nonsignificant different of house exposure level was also observed between the animal house personnel and the management workers. Thus, it can be concluded that although there was a presence of rat allergen contaminations on the hands and shoes of workers prior to leaving the workplace, the take home pathway cannot be established. This may be contributed by proper hygiene practices that have minimized the work to home exposure.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Project Report) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research |
| Divisions: | Kampus Kesihatan (Health Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan (School of Health Sciences) > Monograph |
| Depositing User: | Mr Husnan Budin |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Jul 2025 03:55 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Jul 2025 03:55 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/62391 |
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