Brucella Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Occupationally Exposed Humans in Selected Districts of Southern Province, Zambia

Background: Brucellosis is a neglected debilitating zoonosis widely recognized as an occupational health hazard. The seroprevalence of human anti-Brucella antibodies in high-risk populations, as well as their risk factors, have not been well-documented in Zambia. This study aimed at estimating the Brucella seroprevalence in herdsmen and abattoir workers and assess the associated risk factors.Methods: A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was carried out between May and December 2020 among abattoir workers and herdsmen in Namwala, Monze and Choma districts of Southern Province in Zambia. Seroprevalence was assessed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) or competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) while a questionnaire was administered to obtain epidemiological data.Results: A total of 153 individuals were recruited in the study. The overall Brucella seroprevalence was 20.3% (95% CI: 14.6–27.5). Seropositivity among herdsmen and abattoir workers was 14.4% (95% CI: 9.2–21.8) and 46.4%, (95% CI: 28.8–65.0), respectively. Comparable seropositive results among districts showed Namwala with 26.9%, which was the highest, seconded by Monze 19.0%, and the least was Choma with 11.36%, seropositivity. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that occupation, age category, and district of residence were predictors of being seropositive to Brucella spp. antibodies. The odds of abattoir workers being seropositive to Brucella antibodies were 8.6 (95% CI: 2.6–28.2) higher than that of herdsmen being the reference group. The odds of age category 17–50 years being seropositive to Brucella antibodies were 7.0 (95% CI: 0.7–72.2) higher than being <16 years as the reference group. The odds of one having attained primary level of education being seropositive to Brucella were 1.3 (95% CI: 0.1–14.7) or secondary level of education were 6.2 (95% CI: 0.5–72.6) or tertiary level of education were 5.1 (95% CI: 0.2, 113.3) higher than that of no level of education as the reference group. Furthermore, the odds of a respondent being seropositive to Brucella antibodies were 4.5 (95% CI: 1.3–15.7) for Namwala and 4.9 (95% CI: 1.1–21.7) for Monze higher than that of Choma as the reference group.Conclusion: Anti-Brucella antibodies are prevalent among herdsmen and abattoir workers in the study areas of Zambia (20.26%), a sign of exposure to Brucella pathogens. Type of profession, age and level of education seem to influence the exposure to Brucella pathogens. This zoonosis should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis in humans presenting intermittent fever, malaria-like signs and general pain in humans.

Awareness and Occupational Exposure to Brucellosis and Other Zoonotic Diseases Among Abattoir Workers in Rwanda

Background: Brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis are endemic in Rwandan cattle, but little is known about the awareness of zoonotic transmission and occupational exposure among abattoir workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the awareness, practices, and history of the diseases among 100 abattoir workers from four high throughput and 18 workers from two low throughput abattoirs. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire, and exposure and outcome variables were assessed by univariate and correspondence analyses.Results: It was found that 82.2%, 27.1%, 8.5%, 10.2%, and 12.7% of abattoir workers were familiar with tuberculosis, brucellosis, Q-fever, leptospirosis, and cysticercosis, respectively. Three years before the survey, the majority (67.8%) of abattoir workers reported sickness of malaria (48.3%), and symptoms of flu (5.1%), headache (5.1%), fever (5.1%), headache (5.1%), and nephritis (3.4%). Malaria-negative patients had the symptoms of fatigue (11.0%), and flu (9.3%). Respondents (7.6%) had contracted ‘abattoir-related diseases including typhoid (1.7%) and have had symptoms of diarrhea (5.9%). Few workers also reported abortion (0.9%), and orchitis (0.9%). Most abattoir workers (70.3%) usually cut their hands, a few (9.3%) wore gloves while 39.8% worked with bare and injured hands. Most (74.6%) of workers experienced splashes of animal fluids into their faces while none (0.0%) wore facemasks or safety goggles. Eating at work was observed in 28.0% of abattoir workers. Univariate and correspondence analyses showed that transporters of carcasses, butchers, and workers with 3 years’ experience and above were more likely to get sick than other groups. Conclusions: The awareness that was low for zoonotic brucellosis, Q-fever, leptospirosis, and cysticercosis was supported by not wearing protective equipment’s alerting the competent veterinary authorities to improve biosafety protection in the abattoirs. The awareness for zoonotic brucellosis and tuberculosis was highest in educated workers indicating the need for educating abattoir. Abattoir workers reported the symptoms of fever, fatigue, flu, headache, nephritis, abortion, and orchitis which are common symptoms of brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Q-fever. Abattoirs are key points for the detection of zoonotic infectious diseases; thus, routine sampling and testing of slaughtered animals and abattoir workers are needed for surveillance and control of zoonotic diseases.

Of Mice, Cattle, and Men: A Review of the Eco-Epidemiology of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Ballum

In New Zealand (NZ), leptospirosis is a mostly occupational zoonosis, with >66% of the recently notified cases being farm or abattoir workers. Livestock species independently maintain Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo and L. interrogans serovar Pomona, and both are included in livestock vaccines. The increasing importance in human cases of Ballum, a serovar associated with wildlife, suggests that wildlife may be an overlooked source of infection. Livestock could also act as bridge hosts for humans. Drawing from disease ecology frameworks, we chose five barriers to include in this review based on the hypothesis that cattle act as bridge hosts for Ballum. Using a narrative methodology, we collated published studies pertaining to (a) the distribution and abundance of potential wild maintenance hosts of Ballum, (b) the infection dynamics (prevalence and pathogenesis) in those same hosts, (c) Ballum shedding and survival in the environment, (d) the exposure and competency of cattle as a potential bridge host, and (e) exposure for humans as a target host of Ballum. Mice (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus) and hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were suspected as maintenance hosts of Ballum in NZ in studies conducted in the 1970s–1980s. These introduced species are distributed throughout NZ, and are present on pastures. The role of other wildlife in Ballum (and more broadly Leptospira) transmission remains poorly defined, and has not been thoroughly investigated in NZ. The experimental and natural Ballum infection of cattle suggest a low pathogenicity and the possibility of shedding. The seroprevalence in cattle appears higher in recent serosurveys (3 to 14%) compared with studies from the 1970s (0 to 3%). This review identifies gaps in the knowledge of Ballum, and highlights cattle as a potential spillover host. Further studies are required to ascertain the role that wild and domestic species may play in the eco-epidemiology of Ballum in order to understand its survival in the environment, and to inform control strategies.

Occupational Hazards Exposure and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Meat Safety amongst Abattoir Workers, Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia

Introduction: Food-borne diseases and occupational problems due to poor knowledge, attitude,s and practice towards safe food handling practices in developing countries are common. The purpose of the study was to determine occupational hazards exposure and to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards meat safety among abattoir workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 216 abattoir workers from December 1st to February 30th, 2018 in Hawassa city. Systematic random sampling and semi-structured questionaries were used to collect data. Ethical approval for data collection was obtained from Hawassa University. Results: The study indicated that the majority of them had fair knowledge (42.3%), positive attitude (43.8%), and fair practice (45.3%) towards food safety and compliance with abattoir law. The study also revealed the positive relationship between knowledge and attitude (p<0.01); knowledge and practice (p<0.001), attitude and practice (p<0.01). The main three frequently reported occupational hazards were ergonomic hazard (19.7%), mechanical hazard (18.9%), and psychological hazard (16.7%). Conclusion: The study concluded that there was a poor level of knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor practices of abattoir workers towards meat handling, and compliance with the abattoir law. The study also found that occupational-related hazards most common in this work setting, which are persisting were needed to be improved, through training and occupational health and safety service.

Serosurvey and Risk Factors Associated with Brucella Infection in High Risk Occupations from District Lahore and Kasur of Punjab, Pakistan

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease, and occupations with a high risk of infection exist. Limited information is available on brucellosis for these employees at high risk in Pakistan. A total of 459 persons with high-risk occupations, i.e., 211 abattoir workers, 63 milkers, 52 dung cake makers, 44 veterinarians, 44 shepherds, and 45 veterinary students of the districts Kasur and Lahore, Pakistan, were tested in this study. Blood samples and information on place of residence, gender, age, urbanicity, type of occupation, socioeconomic status, contact with animals, consumption of raw milk, contact to women who had a miscarriage, contact to aborted animal fetus or abortion material, pregnancy, miscarriage history, or intrauterine fetal death were collected. Serum samples were examined using Rose Bengal tests for anti-Brucella antibodies and seropositive samples were subjected to genus-specific qPCR for the detection of DNA. Data were analyzed using chi-squared and binary regression. Twenty (4.35%) persons were seropositive for anti-Brucella antibodies. Out of these, 18 (90%) were tested positive by Brucella genus-specific qPCR. Positive sera were more often found in Lahore district (8.3%) than in Kasur district (3.1%). Persons older than 36 years were more often seropositive. Persons involved in the handing of milk and in contact with animals were more often seropositive. Contact with women who had had a miscarriage was also a significant factor for seropositivity for brucellosis. Place of residence, gender, age, urbanicity, and contact with animals were identified as potential risk factors in the present study. The present study confirmed that brucellosis is an occupation hazard for abattoir workers, milkers, dung cake makers, and veterinarians in the districts of Lahore and Kasur of Punjab, Pakistan. The study shows the need for strategies for safety at work to minimize the risk of infection. Raising awareness for the prevention and use of proper personal protection equipment during the slaughtering and treatment of animal is highly needed.

Bacterial gastroenteritis caused by the putative zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter lanienae: First reported case in Germany

Foodborne campylobacteriosis is the most common cause of human bacterial enteritis in Germany. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the main causative agents for enteric disease, but a number of other species are involved, including rare ones. These rare Campylobacter spp. are emerging zoonotic pathogens in humans due to increasing international movement of supplies, livestock and people. Campylobacter lanienae was first isolated from healthy abattoir workers in Switzerland and at first its pathogenic potential for humans was considered to be low. Recently, the first case of Campylobacter lanienae -associated human enteritis was reported in Canada. Here, we describe a case of mild Campylobacter lanienae -associated enteritis with subsequent asymptomatic excretion in a butcher. The isolate is available at the TLV strain collection (no. TP00333/18). This first reported case of human Campylobacter lanienae campylobacteriosis in Germany demonstrates the agent’s likely zoonotic pathogenicity.

EFFECT OF TYRE SMOKE EXPOSURE ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF SELECTED ABATTOIR WORKERS: A TRANS-AMADI (OGINIGBA TOWN) SLAUGHTER MARKET STUDY

This investigation was conducted to study the effect of exposure to tyre smoke on serum calcium (Ca) and albumin (Alb) of selected abattoir workers in Oginigba area of Obio Akpor L.G.A., Rivers State. A total of 50 participants were recruited for the study (35 test and 15 control). The test population was divided into five study groups 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-15 and above 15 years of service (exposure years) at the abattoir. Blood samples were collected by veinupuncture and analyzed for serum calcium and albumin using the colorimetric and bromocresol-green method respectively. Compared to 3% of the control population, 49% of the test population had a serum calcium level below the standard reference of 2.20-2.55mmol/l. Results of serum albumin showed that 23% of the test population had levels above the standard reference of 3.5-5.0g/dl whereas the control population had values within the reference range. When the respective test groups were compared with the control, groups 1-3, 7-9 and 10-15 showed significant reduction in serum calcium level while groups 7-9 and 10-15 showed significant increase in the serum albumin level. Serum calcium was observed to significantly differ from the control at the least level of exposure (1-3 years) while serum albumin differed significantly from the control at 7 years of exposure for non-smokers and 4 years of exposure amongst smokers. The data was also grouped into two study groups based on genotypes AA and AS. It was observed that participants with genotype AS were more susceptible to the effect of the smoke inhalation and recorded low serum calcium level. The result of this research has demonstrated that abattoir workers (roasters) are prone to developing hypocalcaemia and hyperalbuminaemia, and as such require periodic medical attention, care and better animal processing (dehairing) practice/method.