Abstract
Zoonotic diseases can be occupational hazards to people who work in close contact with animals or their carcasses. In this cross-sectional study, 190 sera were collected from butchers and slaughterhouse workers in different regions of the Sistan va Baluchestan province, in Iran in 2011. A questionnaire was filled for each participant to document personal and behavioural information. The sera were tested for detection of specific IgG antibodies against brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Q fever (phase I and II) using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The seroprevalence of brucellosis was 7.9%, leptospirosis 23.4%, and phase I and II of Q fever were 18.1% and 14.4%, respectively. The seroprevalence of Q fever and leptospirosis, but not brucellosis, varied among regions within the province (p = 0.01). Additionally, a significant relationship was found between seropositivity of Q fever and camel slaughtering (p = 0.04). Reduced seropositivity rate of brucellosis was associated with use of personal protective equipment (PPE) (p = 0.004). This study shows that brucellosis, leptospirosis and Q fever occur among butchers and slaughterhouse workers in this area.
Highlights
Many zoonotic diseases and human pathogens are occupational hazards faced by individuals who come into close contact with animals or their carcasses
190 blood samples was taken from butchers and slaughterhouse workers residing in 11 counties of the Sistan va Baluchistan province, including Zahak and Zabol in the north, Iranshahr, Zahedan and Khash in the centre and Chabahar, Sarbaz, Saravan and Konarak in the south of the province
In this study we obtained the seroprevalence of antibodies to three zoonotic bacterial diseases among slaughterhouse workers and butchers in the Sistan va Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran
Summary
Many zoonotic diseases and human pathogens are occupational hazards faced by individuals who come into close contact with animals or their carcasses. Q fever is a significant zoonotic disease caused by the rickettsia-like bacterium Coxiella burnetii [12] This disease is considered to be an occupational hazard for livestock handlers, farmers, veterinarians, and butchers and slaughterhouse workers [13]. Livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats are among the main sources of human infection. As butchers and slaughterhouse workers are in close contact with animals or their body fluids and tissues they are at high risk of contracting zoonotic diseases [16]. We evaluated the risk factors related to these diseases among these individuals
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