Abstract
Objective
Q fever is a main occupational zoonotic disease. Slaughterhouse is one of the most remarkable ways of transmitting the infection from livestock to humans. This study aimed to survey the prevalence of Q fever in slaughterhouse workers in Fars province, Iran, for the first time.
Methods
Ninety serum samples were collected from slaughterhouse workers and tested to detect Immunoglobulin G (IgG) against Coxiella burnetii using ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). PCR was also applied to identify C. burnetii DNA in the blood samples.
Results
Q fever seroprevalence was found at 26.7% in ELISA, showing recent infection. This result indicates that Q fever seroprevalence is relatively high in the Fars region. IFA showed a high seroprevalence of total IgG antibodies at 1:64 titer (73.3%) and relatively high IgG at 1:256 titer (40%) against C. burnetii. 2.2% of the workers were recognized as having probable acute Q fever. The IgG II prevalence at 1:64 and 1:256 titers was, respectively, 63.3% and 24.4% positive. The IgG I prevalence at 1:64 and 1:256 titers was also found 33.3% and 22.2% positive, respectively. Molecular prevalence of Q fever was also 8.9%. A significant relationship was found between IgG I seropositivity and longer work experience and employing other livestock-related jobs (animal husbandry and butchery) (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
As such, the high seroprevalence of Q fever among abattoir workers highlights the importance of further comprehensive epidemiological studies, occupational screening programs, and preventive measures for Q fever in high-risk groups. This also warns animal health care organizations about the risk of Q fever infection in livestock in this region.
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Data availability
Data are available on request from the authors.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Research Council of Shiraz University and the School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, for the financial and technical support of this study (Grant No. 98GRC1M367732).
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AZ: data collection, methodology, and original draft preparation. MM: conceptualization, supervisor, data analysis, writing, and editing. SSS: data analysis, reviewing, and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards Shiraz University, Iran (IACUC no: 1399/63).
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Zakeri, A., Montaseri, M. & Shekarforoush, S.S. Prevalence and risk factors associated with Q fever infection in slaughterhouse workers in Fars province, Iran. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 96, 597–605 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-023-01954-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-023-01954-z