Rat allergens exposure level of animal house personnel: from work to home exposure
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 a...
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| Format: | Monograph |
| Language: | English |
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Universiti Sains Malaysia
2016
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/62391/ http://eprints.usm.my/62391/1/SHAFIRAH%20BINTI%20MOHD%20ZAIN%20-%20e.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848884971227316224 |
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| author | Rawi, Shahmira Md |
| author_facet | Rawi, Shahmira Md |
| author_sort | Rawi, Shahmira Md |
| building | USM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T19:15:10Z |
| format | Monograph |
| id | usm-62391 |
| institution | Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T19:15:10Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | usm-623912025-07-21T03:55:40Z http://eprints.usm.my/62391/ Rat allergens exposure level of animal house personnel: from work to home exposure Rawi, Shahmira Md R Medicine (General) RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research 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. Universiti Sains Malaysia 2016 Monograph NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.usm.my/62391/1/SHAFIRAH%20BINTI%20MOHD%20ZAIN%20-%20e.pdf Rawi, Shahmira Md (2016) Rat allergens exposure level of animal house personnel: from work to home exposure. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia. (Submitted) |
| spellingShingle | R Medicine (General) RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research Rawi, Shahmira Md Rat allergens exposure level of animal house personnel: from work to home exposure |
| title | Rat allergens exposure level of animal house
personnel: from work to home exposure |
| title_full | Rat allergens exposure level of animal house
personnel: from work to home exposure |
| title_fullStr | Rat allergens exposure level of animal house
personnel: from work to home exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rat allergens exposure level of animal house
personnel: from work to home exposure |
| title_short | Rat allergens exposure level of animal house
personnel: from work to home exposure |
| title_sort | rat allergens exposure level of animal house
personnel: from work to home exposure |
| topic | R Medicine (General) RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research |
| url | http://eprints.usm.my/62391/ http://eprints.usm.my/62391/1/SHAFIRAH%20BINTI%20MOHD%20ZAIN%20-%20e.pdf |