[Pneumonitis caused by hypersensitivity to pigeons. (I). Clinical value of counterimmunoelectrophoresis for detection of specific antibodies in the serum].

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to pigeon's exposure (pigeon's breeder disease) is a interstitial lung disease caused by immune mechanisms after sensitization to pigeon serum antigens. An immunological test, counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), has been developed to recognize the humoral immune response against pigeon serum and dropping antigens, in a simple, low cost and fast test than other cumbersome tests presently in use. The CIE has high sensibility and specificity (X2 = 35.8 p 0.001) that guarantee its clinical usefulness. When Pigeon breeder's disease is suspected on clinical grounds, the CIE test is indicated to confirm diagnosis.