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• Dreyfus, A
• Benschop, J
• Collins-Emerson, J
• Wilson, P
• Baker, MG.
• Heuer, C
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• Dreyfus, A
• Benschop, J
• Collins-Emerson, J
• Wilson, P
• Baker, MG.
• Heuer, C
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• Dreyfus, A
• Benschop, J
• Collins-Emerson, J
• Wilson, P
• Baker, MG.
• Heuer, C

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11(2), 1756-1775; doi:10.3390/ijerph110201756

Article

Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors for Leptospirosis in Abattoir Workers in New Zealand

Anou Dreyfus ^1,2,* , Jackie Benschop ¹, Julie Collins-Emerson ³, Peter Wilson ³, Michael G. Baker ⁴ and Cord Heuer ¹

¹ EpiCentre, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand ² Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland ³ Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand ⁴ Department of Public Health, University of Otago, P.O. Box 7343, Wellington 6242, New Zealand

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 12 December 2013; in revised form: 22 January 2014 / Accepted: 23 January 2014 / Published: 5 February 2014

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Leptospirosis in the Animal—Human-Ecosystem Interface)

Download PDF Full-Text [430 KB, Updated Version, uploaded 12 February 2014 15:45 CET]

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Abstract: 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.

Keywords: abattoir; leptospirosis; Leptospira borgpetersenii sv. Hardjobovis; Leptospira interrogans sv. Pomona; microscopic agglutination test; sero-prevalence

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