TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of inhalation of dust and endotoxin on respiratory tracts of pigs. JF - Am J Vet Res Y1 - 1999 A1 - Urbain, B A1 - Jan Mast A1 - Beerens, D A1 - N'Guyen, T Q A1 - Goddeeris, B A1 - Ansay, M A1 - Gustin, P KW - Albumins KW - Animal Feed KW - Animals KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal KW - Bronchoalveolar Lavage KW - Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid KW - Dust KW - Endotoxins KW - Escherichia coli KW - Flow Cytometry KW - Fluorescent Antibody Technique KW - Inhalation Exposure KW - L-Lactate Dehydrogenase KW - Leukocyte Count KW - Lung KW - Nasal Lavage Fluid KW - Radioimmunoassay KW - Random Allocation KW - Respiratory Tract Diseases KW - Swine KW - Swine Diseases AB -

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of inhalation of feed flour dust and dustborne endotoxin on respiratory tracts of pigs.

ANIMALS: 29 healthy Belgian Landrace pigs.

PROCEDURE: Pigs housed in an environmental chamber were exposed for 6 days to feed flour dust (1 to 15 mg/m3) and dustborne endotoxins (50 to 2,500 ng/m3). Effects were evaluated by measuring albumin concentration, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, cell composition of nasal lavage (NL) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and blood, and percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in blood and lavage fluids. Dustborne endotoxin was obtained by mixing endotoxins from Escherichia coli (serotype O127:B8) with feed flour before spraying the flour in the environmental chamber.

RESULTS: Exposure did not affect cell composition of NL fluid or blood. Total cell counts of BAL fluids were increased in all groups exposed to dust. Macrophage counts were increased in pigs exposed to inhalable dust concentrations as low as 4.4 mg/m3, and lymphocyte counts were increased in groups exposed to high dust concentrations. Percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in blood and lavage fluids were unchanged. In all dust-exposed groups, albumin content of BAL fluid was increased, whereas LDH activity was unaffected. Macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration and edema in the bronchi were identified by light microscopy. Effects attributable to E. coli endotoxin exposure were not identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of feed flour dust did not affect nasal mucosa but did induce bronchial airway inflammation. Dustborne endotoxins did not have effects attributable to endotoxin alone.

VL - 60 CP - 9 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10490071?dopt=Abstract ER -