Serologic studies in farmer's lung. Precipitins to the thermophilic actinomycetes.

Abstract

Two separate studies were conducted to determine the incidence of antibodies to different isolates of the thermophilic aotinomycetes in patients with fanner's lung. Micropolyspora fa!eni accounted for slightly more than one-half of the sensitization, but sensitivity to more than I antigen was also seen. The most frequent combination was M. faeni and Thermomonospora viridis. It also appears that Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strains differ in antigenicity. Three strains of T. vulgaris tested differed, and currently all are in use as test reagents. The recommendation is made that testing for farmer's lung, particularly on a screening basis, include as a minimum, M. faeni, T. vulgaris (3 strains), T. viridis, Thermoactinomyces sacchari, and the air conditioner microorganism.