Risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughterhouse workers in Kitakyushu City.

Abstract

To clarify the risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection among slaughterhouse workers, we investigated Toxoplasma antibody in workers and swine in the meat center of Kitakyushu City and discussed the result from the standpoint of working conditions. Among 67 slaughterhouse workers, 22 were positive for Toxoplasma antibody (positive rate, 32.8%), while among 208 swine, 19 were positive (positive rate, 9.1%). When classified by ages of workers, positive rates in workers were 0% at the age of 30 or less and around 40% at the age of 31 and over. Especially, positive rate became as high as 66.7% in workers aged 61 and over. Positive rates for Toxoplasma antibody in workers classified by duration of employment were 25% for 5 years or less and 41.5% for 6 years and over. Moreover, there was no difference in positive rates of Toxoplasma antibody between swine slaughterers (positive rate, 32.4%) and cattle slaughterers (33.9%). Although overall positive rate of Toxoplasma antibody in slaughterers was higher, positive antibody in younger slaughterers or that of shorter duration of employment was considerably low. In addition, since positive rate of Toxoplasma antibody in swine brought to the slaughterhouse has decreased remarkably in comparison to the previous study, risk of toxoplasmosis in slaughterhouse workers also seemed to have decreased.