Seroprevalence of Q Fever and Risk Factors Affecting Transmission of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in Industrial Slaughterhouse; A Survey from Northeastern Iran
| Author | Majid Khadem-Rezaiyan | en |
| Author | Golam Ali Azari Garmjan | en |
| Author | Lida Jarahi | en |
| Author | Kiarash Ghazvini | en |
| Author | Masoud Youssefi | en |
| Orcid | Majid Khadem-Rezaiyan [0000-0003-2698-176X] | en |
| Orcid | Lida Jarahi [0000-0001-7753-6610] | en |
| Orcid | Kiarash Ghazvini [0000-0002-8538-1425] | en |
| Orcid | Masoud Youssefi [0000-0001-6028-3573] | en |
| Issued Date | 2023-02-28 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Q fever is a generally neglected infection caused by Coxiella burnetii. Slaughterhouse workers exposed to livestock are among occupationally at-risk people. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) IgG antibody among industrial slaughterhouse workers and factors affecting the risk of infection. Methods: In this cross-sectional study serum samples were taken from 91 individuals working at the central industrial abattoir in Mashhad, Iran using a convenient sampling method. Sera were kept at -80°C until assayed for specific anti-Coxiella burnetii IgG antibodies (phase 1) using the commercial ELISA kit. The participants filled out a checklist addressing potential risk factors of acquiring the infection. SPSS 11.5 was used for data analysis considering a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The participants’ mean age was 38.7 ± 8 years. Fifty-six percent of the studied individuals (51 out of 91) were found positive for anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies. The most prevalent cases were sheep (29, 57%) and cow (18, 35%) butchers. The odds of Q fever infection increased among those with a history of accidental hand cuts of more than five times during the previous years (OR = 2.56, CI95% = 1.02 - 6.33, P-value = 0.04) and those dealing with sheep as the primary livestock (OR = 2.9, CI95% = 1.09 - 7.66, P = 0.02). Conclusions: The high seropositivity rate of anti-Coxiella burnetii IgG reflects high exposure rate of workers to this potentially serious pathogen in slaughtherhouses; therefore, careful education, follow-up, and revision of decontamination policies and improved occupational care and environmental hygiene should be strictly implemented in slaughterhouses to reduce the risk. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jhealthscope-132858 | en |
| Keyword | Q Fever | en |
| Keyword | Abattoir | en |
| Keyword | <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> | en |
| Keyword | Iran | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Seroprevalence of Q Fever and Risk Factors Affecting Transmission of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in Industrial Slaughterhouse; A Survey from Northeastern Iran | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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