Abstract

Airborne endotoxin and (1-3)-β-D-glucan can cause adverse health problems and lead to potentially occupational exposure to the animal handler in the animal laboratories. The purposes of the study were to assess temporal changes of biological agents concentrations in a laboratory mouse room (LMR) and in a laboratory rabbit room (LRR) and to determine environmental factors associated with endotoxin and (1-3)-β-D-glucan concentrations. The concentrations of airborne endotoxin, and (1-3)-β-D-glucan were sampled once a month in the LMR and LRR. Endotoxin was collected using 3-piece cassettes with a glass fibre filter for six hours and was analysed by the kinetic-turbidimetric Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay. (1-3)-β-D-glucan was performed using two stage cyclone bioaerosol sampler for six hours and assayed using the kinetic chromogenic LAL assay. The endotoxin concentrations did not show large variations, but the concentrations slightly increased in winter for the both rooms. The (1-3)-β-D-glucan concentrations seemed to increase from warmer spring to summer in the LMR and LRR. The overall bioaerosol concentrations were significantly greater in the LRR than in the LMR. The concentrations of bioaerosol in the LMR and LRR varied greatly depending on seasonality, and their changes were affected by the ventilation system and cleaning cycle.