Sensitation profile of occupational allergic diseases and quality of life in veterinary medicine students

Abstract

Veterinarians are among the occupational groups most affected by allergic respiratory diseases due to early and prolonged exposure to animal allergens during training and professional practice. However, epidemiological data on sensitization profiles, risk factors, and protective factors among veterinary medicine students are still limited. Veterinary medicine students present a substantial burden of sensitization to allergens, particularly to cats, mainly influenced by environmental and early childhood factors. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of allergic individuals among university students, especially veterinary medicine and animal science students, as well as to assess the incidence of allergic symptoms (longitudinally) according to course progression and its relationship with quality of life, through the application of questionnaires on asthma and rhinitis symptoms, quality of life, and risk factors for the development of respiratory allergies. In addition to the questionnaires, sensitization to dog and cat hair was assessed through a prick test. To meet the objectives, the first chapter addressed the prevalence of allergies in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science students at UFLA and UNILAVRAS, compared to students in courses without occupational contact with animals; it longitudinally evaluated sensitization to dog and cat dander, using the skin prick test, in incoming students and after 1 year of academic activities, listing possible risk and protective factors related to allergic rhinitis and asthma. The fluctuation of allergic symptoms and their relationship with the degree of occupational exposure to animal dander was also analyzed. Early childhood exposure can promote immunological tolerance, while late or intermittent exposure—combined with genetic predisposition and highly sanitized environments—can favor allergic sensitization, leading to the development of asthma and rhinitis. Allergic sensitization to dog and cat dander and the development of asthma and rhinitis are multifactorial processes influenced by genetic, environmental, and exposure-related factors. In the second chapter, the persistence or not of allergic respiratory symptoms after occupational exposure during one year of undergraduate studies was evaluated, listing possible factors for persistence (risk) or improvement (protection) of allergic symptoms. A new skin prick test was performed, and questionnaires on asthma and rhinitis symptoms, quality of life, and risk factors for the development of respiratory allergies 13 were applied. Translational logistic regression models were applied to estimate the probability of changes in the state of sensitization over time. Sensitization tends to persist after being established, while spontaneous loss of sensitization is uncommon. It was observed that students with prolonged occupational exposure during veterinary medicine and animal science training do not necessarily present an increased risk of allergic sensitization, suggesting a possible role of immunological tolerance in this population. The findings highlight the importance of preventive strategies during academic training to reduce the future incidence of occupational allergic diseases.