Multiple sites of exposure in an outbreak of ornithosis in workers at a poultry abattoir and farm

Abstract

Cases of ornithosis amongst workers on a rural duck abattoir and farm were notified from late 2003 to health authorities in Victoria, Australia. In May 2004 we conducted a serological survey to identify the extent of exposure to Chlamydophila psittaci amongst workers and a case control study to identify high-risk work areas for ornithosis-related pneumonia. Some workers in all occupational groups showed serological evidence of exposure, while those with pneumonia were more likely to have worked in the slaughtering area of the abattoir (adjusted odds ratio 16.7, 95% confidence interval 1.3-207). High exposure to blood and feathers from recently killed birds is likely to represent an occupational hazard to workers, but pneumonia did occur in workers without these exposures. We recommended respiratory protection for all abattoir workers and improvements to airflow and reduction of environmental contamination in high-risk work areas to prevent further cases.

Chlamydophila psittaci Zoonotic Risk Assessment in a Chicken and Turkey Slaughterhouse

“…Living animals are actively excreting C. psittaci cells (due to crowding and stress), and during evisceration, infected air sacs and lungs are exposed to the environment. This has also been observed by Tiong et al (18), examining an outbreak of ornithosis in a poultry abattoir.…”

“…Even though it seems that many infections were asymptomatic, there is always a possibility of a virulent psittacosis outbreak in slaughterhouses (10,18,31). Accurate diagnostic monitoring and reporting of infections in both poultry and poultry workers should be promoted.…”

“…of parrot fever were reported in the North American (6,10) and European (8,13,14,17,21,24) poultry industries as well as in China (11), India (3), and Australia (18). Evidence of human infections associated with outbreaks in commercially raised turkeys and ducks does exist (2,8).…”

Poultry Processing Work And Respiratory Health Of Latino Men And Women In North Carolina

“…Throughout the facilities, workers may encounter cold temperatures and high humidity, and potential inhalation exposures include aerosolized chlorine compounds, cleaning agents, and machining and other fluids; airborne allergens, bacteria, dusts, endotoxin, and fungi; and carbon dioxide. The extent to which appropriate respiratory protection or mechanical ventilation systems are used in the poultry processing industry is unknown, though outbreaks of psittacosis and pneumonia [15][16][17] and reports of eye and respiratory tract irritation 5,13,18 suggest that workers' airways may not be sufficiently protected.Previous epidemiologic research conducted in North Carolina has reported depressive symptoms, 19 dermatologic conditions, 20 and musculoskeletal problems 18,19,21 in the largely minority and immigrant poultry processing workforce, indicating that workers may be vulnerable to a range of occupational hazards. Our analyses build on these findings and the strong evidence of an association between poultry barn work and respiratory health by assessing self-reported respiratory symptoms and measurements of lung function among workers in the Latino poultry processing workforce in western North Carolina.…”

“…Throughout the facilities, workers may encounter cold temperatures and high humidity, and potential inhalation exposures include aerosolized chlorine compounds, cleaning agents, and machining and other fluids; airborne allergens, bacteria, dusts, endotoxin, and fungi; and carbon dioxide. The extent to which appropriate respiratory protection or mechanical ventilation systems are used in the poultry processing industry is unknown, though outbreaks of psittacosis and pneumonia [15][16][17] and reports of eye and respiratory tract irritation 5,13,18 suggest that workers' airways may not be sufficiently protected.…”