Risk factors for leptospirosis seropositivity in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya

Abstract

ObjectivesLeptospirosis has been documented in slaughterhouse workers around the world. Risk factors include smoking and drinking at work, and performing tasks such as cleaning offal. This paper examined risk factors for leptospirosis seropositivity in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya.MethodsThe study was conducted between May 2011 and October 2012. Questionnaires were used to collect information from workers on demographic data, health and hygiene practices in the slaughterhouse. A commercial ELISA detected antibodies to Leptospira spp. in serum samples and multilevel logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with leptospirosis seropositivity.ResultsA total of 737 workers from 142 slaughterhouses were recruited. The seroprevalence of antibodies to Leptospira spp. was 13.4% (95% CI 11.1% to 16.1%). Risk factors included: having wounds (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.5 to 6.1); smoking (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.9); eating at work (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.6); cleaning the offal (OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.8 to 15.0); and having a borehole for personal water use (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.7). At the slaughterhouse level, risk factors included having a roof (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.2 to 5.6) and drawing water from a well (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.0). Protective factors included working in slaughterhouses where antemortem inspection was conducted (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4 to 1.0) and where workers wore protective aprons (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7).ConclusionsThis is the first report of leptospirosis seropositivity in slaughterhouse workers in Kenya. Potential risk factors were identified and this information can be used to educate workers regarding their disease risks and ways to prevent or reduce transmission.

Q fever is an old and neglected zoonotic disease in Kenya: a systematic review

“…A seroprevalence survey on banked sera of febrile patients treated in a rural clinic in western Kenya recorded seropositivity of 30.9, with 3 % of patients who had been diagnosed with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) being found to have acute Q fever [ 17 ]. A study by Cook et al [ 33 ] reported C. burnetii seroprevalence of 4.5 % in abattoir workers in western Kenya while Mwololo et al [ 34 ] found 26.8 % seropositivity in individuals in Bura district where mixed crop farming and pastoralism are practiced. The findings in these studies were recently presented at international conferences [ 33 , 34 ].…”

“…A study by Cook et al [ 33 ] reported C. burnetii seroprevalence of 4.5 % in abattoir workers in western Kenya while Mwololo et al [ 34 ] found 26.8 % seropositivity in individuals in Bura district where mixed crop farming and pastoralism are practiced. The findings in these studies were recently presented at international conferences [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Serological survey on Leptospira infection in slaughtered swine in North-Central Italy

“…The source of human infection is direct contact with animal-infected urine or indirect through contaminated water [1,2]. Especially in developed countries, leptospirosis represents an occupational disease associated with particular kind of works (cropper, farmer, veterinarian and slaughterer) [3][4][5][6][7].…”

Seroprevalance of Leptospirosis Among Slaughterhouse Workers in Çorum Province

“…Mezbaha temizliği yapan dört çalışan ise seronegatif bulundu, kişisel koruyucu ekipman kullanımının yüksek oranda sağlanıyor olmasının bu durumu sağlamış olabileceği düşünüldü. Kenya'da yapılan prevalans çalışmasında mezbaha çalışanlarının mezbahada ne iş yaptıklarından bağımsız olarak iş sırasında sigara içmeleri, yemek yemeleri ya da içmeleri ve sakatatları temizlemeleri mezbaha içinde seropozitiflik riskini arttıran eylemler olarak bulunmuş olup önlük kullanımı koruyucu unsur olarak saptanmıştır (19).…”