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Risk of infection and associated influenza-like disease among abattoir workers due to two Leptospira species

Stärk, Katharina D.C. ; DREYFUS, A. ; HEUER, C. ; WILSON, P. ; COLLINS-EMERSON, J. ; BAKER, M. G. ; BENSCHOP, J.

In: Epidemiology and Infection, 2015, vol. 143, no. 10, p. 2095-2105

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    Title
    • Risk of infection and associated influenza-like disease among abattoir workers due to two Leptospira species
    Author
    • Stärk, Katharina D.C.. 1 EpiCentre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    • DREYFUS, A.. EpiCentre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    • HEUER, C.. EpiCentre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    • WILSON, P.. Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    • COLLINS-EMERSON, J.. Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    • BAKER, M. G.. Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
    • BENSCHOP, J.. Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Epidemiology and Infection, 2015, vol. 143, no. 10, p. 2095-2105. Cambridge University Press
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:299627
    Summary
    The aims of this study were to determine the annual incidence of infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona and/or Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo and its association with influenza-like illness (ILI) in meat workers in New Zealand. Sera were collected twice, 50-61 weeks apart, from 592 workers at eight abattoirs slaughtering sheep (n=4), cattle (n=2) and deer (n=2), and tested by the microscopic agglutination test for Hardjo and Pomona. Forty-nine (8·3%) participants either seroconverted or had at least a twofold increased serological titre against either serovar. The worker infection risk was higher in sheep abattoirs (11·9%) than in abattoirs processing deer (0%) or cattle (1·2%) (P<0·01). The annualized risk of mild (ILI) or severe clinical disease attributable to the two Leptospira serovars was 2·7%. This study has demonstrated that meat workers are at substantial risk of infection and clinical disease, suggesting further investigation of infection sources and preventive measures are warranted