Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand
Leptospirosis is an important occupational disease in New Zealand. The objectives of this study were to determine risk factors for sero-prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in abattoir workers. Sera were collected from 567 abattoir workers and tested by microscopic agglutination for Leptospira inter...
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doaj-f9b0c3068c38409bb44abead6bf39e5c2020-11-24T21:36:28ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012014-02-011121756177510.3390/ijerph110201756ijerph110201756Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New ZealandAnou Dreyfus0Jackie Benschop1Julie Collins-Emerson2Peter Wilson3Michael G. Baker4Cord Heuer5EpiCentre, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandEpiCentre, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandInstitute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandInstitute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandDepartment of Public Health, University of Otago, P.O. Box 7343, Wellington 6242, New ZealandEpiCentre, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandLeptospirosis is an important occupational disease in New Zealand. The objectives of this study were to determine risk factors for sero-prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in abattoir workers. Sera were collected from 567 abattoir workers and tested by microscopic agglutination for Leptospira interrogans sv. Pomona and Leptospira borgpetersenii sv. Hardjobovis. Association between prevalence and risk factors were determined by species specific multivariable analysis. Eleven percent of workers had antibodies against Hardjobovis or/and Pomona. Workers from the four sheep abattoirs had an average sero-prevalence of 10%–31%, from the two deer abattoirs 17%–19% and the two beef abattoirs 5%. The strongest risk factor for sero-positivity in sheep and deer abattoirs was work position. In sheep abattoirs, prevalence was highest at stunning and hide removal, followed by removal of the bladder and kidneys. Wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves and facemasks did not appear to protect against infection. Home slaughtering, farming or hunting were not significantly associated with sero-prevalence. There is substantial risk of exposure to leptospires in sheep and deer abattoirs in New Zealand and a persisting, but lower risk, in beef abattoirs. Interventions, such as animal vaccination, appear necessary to control leptospirosis as an occupational disease in New Zealand.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/2/1756abattoirleptospirosisLeptospira borgpetersenii sv. Hardjobovis Leptospira interrogans sv. Pomonamicroscopic agglutination testsero-prevalence |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Anou Dreyfus Jackie Benschop Julie Collins-Emerson Peter Wilson Michael G. Baker Cord Heuer |
spellingShingle |
Anou Dreyfus Jackie Benschop Julie Collins-Emerson Peter Wilson Michael G. Baker Cord Heuer Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health abattoir leptospirosis Leptospira borgpetersenii sv. Hardjobovis Leptospira interrogans sv. Pomona microscopic agglutination test sero-prevalence |
author_facet |
Anou Dreyfus Jackie Benschop Julie Collins-Emerson Peter Wilson Michael G. Baker Cord Heuer |
author_sort |
Anou Dreyfus |
title |
Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand |
title_short |
Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand |
title_full |
Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand |
title_fullStr |
Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand |
title_sort |
sero-prevalence and risk factors for leptospirosis in abattoir workers in new zealand |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2014-02-01 |
description |
Leptospirosis is an important occupational disease in New Zealand. The objectives of this study were to determine risk factors for sero-prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in abattoir workers. Sera were collected from 567 abattoir workers and tested by microscopic agglutination for Leptospira interrogans sv. Pomona and Leptospira borgpetersenii sv. Hardjobovis. Association between prevalence and risk factors were determined by species specific multivariable analysis. Eleven percent of workers had antibodies against Hardjobovis or/and Pomona. Workers from the four sheep abattoirs had an average sero-prevalence of 10%–31%, from the two deer abattoirs 17%–19% and the two beef abattoirs 5%. The strongest risk factor for sero-positivity in sheep and deer abattoirs was work position. In sheep abattoirs, prevalence was highest at stunning and hide removal, followed by removal of the bladder and kidneys. Wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves and facemasks did not appear to protect against infection. Home slaughtering, farming or hunting were not significantly associated with sero-prevalence. There is substantial risk of exposure to leptospires in sheep and deer abattoirs in New Zealand and a persisting, but lower risk, in beef abattoirs. Interventions, such as animal vaccination, appear necessary to control leptospirosis as an occupational disease in New Zealand. |
topic |
abattoir leptospirosis Leptospira borgpetersenii sv. Hardjobovis Leptospira interrogans sv. Pomona microscopic agglutination test sero-prevalence |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/2/1756 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT anoudreyfus seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforleptospirosisinabattoirworkersinnewzealand AT jackiebenschop seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforleptospirosisinabattoirworkersinnewzealand AT juliecollinsemerson seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforleptospirosisinabattoirworkersinnewzealand AT peterwilson seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforleptospirosisinabattoirworkersinnewzealand AT michaelgbaker seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforleptospirosisinabattoirworkersinnewzealand AT cordheuer seroprevalenceandriskfactorsforleptospirosisinabattoirworkersinnewzealand |
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