Serum antibody responses of divers to waterborne pathogens

Abstract

To assess the significance of exposure of divers to waterborne pathogens, specific immunoglobulin G serum antibody responses to Pseudomonas and Aeromonas isolates recovered from dive sites from the respiratory tracts of nine experienced divers and seven diving trainees working in the Chesapeake Bay area over a 6- to 18-month period were measured. A significant increase in the frequency of isolation of these organisms from respiratory surfaces both groups of divers after each dive was noted, with the divers' ears being the predominant recovery site (48%; P < 10(-8), chi-square). The acute serum responses of the majority of experienced divers (83%) showed evidence of preexisting antibody to these potential pathogens, whereas the acute serum response of only 32% of naive divers showed such evidence (P < 10(-8), chi-square). Six months into their training, the rate of seroresponse of the trainees to organisms recovered after their first dives increased to 61% (P = 0.003, chi-square), suggesting that repeated exposure in necessary for generation of a specific systemic immunologic response. The rate of acquisition of a new seroresponse to recovered organisms was approximately 12% per dive for both groups of divers, suggesting that there is continuous exposure to, and infection with, new strains present in the water during dives. These data suggest that, in cases in which systemic antibody is important for protection, there are various levels of susceptibility to waterborne potential pathogens in both experienced and inexperienced divers.