Bagassosis: I. Precipitins Against Extracts of Crude Bagasse in the Serum of Patients

Abstract

Bagassosis is an acute respiratory disease which primarily affects workers who handle dried sugar cane fiber (bagasse). The disease occurs wherever sugar cane is processed and is worldwide in distribution, over 340 cases having been reported since its recognition in 1937. Numerous theories have been advanced to explain the mechanism by which bagasse affects the lungs. The theory that bagassosis represents a hypersensitivity to one or more fungi in bagasse dust is the only one which has enjoyed continuing support, but no proof of its validity has been brought forth. In the present report, precipitins against 11 different extracts of crude bagasse were demonstrated in a high percentage of the sera of 48 bagassosis patients, using the technique of Ouchterlony double diffusion in agar. A smaller percentage of precipitins were demonstrable in the sera of bagasse workers who had never had clinical bagassosis, and virtually none were noted in the sera of 45 other control subjects. It is postulated that antigenic substances are formed in bagasse by the action of fungi under appropriate conditions, and these substances may play an important role in the patho-genesis of bagassosis.