The analysis of occupational Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, Brucella spp., and Coxiella burnetii infections among veterinarians in Turkey

Abstract number: 1134_02_345

Ergonul Ö., Zeller H., Kilic S., Kutlu S., Kutlu M., Cavusoglu S., Gozalan A., Esen B., Dokuzoguz B.

Objective:

To investigate the prevalence of the infections by Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus, brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii among veterinarians.

Methods:

The study was conducted in two provinces of Turkey, one is an endemic region both for CCHF and brucella infections, and the other is not. The sera from veterinarians were collected in October 2003, and tested for antibodies to CCHF virus, Brucella spp, and Coxiella burnetii.

Results:

Forty veterinerians from endemic region (Tokat), and 43 from non-endemic region (Aydin) were included. Demographic characteristics in two groups were similar, whereas professional activities of veterinarians in non-endemic region were more intense (p = 0.001). The CCHF IgG positivity (2.5% vs 0%), brucella agglutination titre of >1/160 (27.5 vs 4.6%) were more common in endemic region than non-endemic region. Three veterinarians in Tokat had malaise, myalgia, and fever. In multivariate analysis to detect the risk factors for serum tube agglutination of > 160, the veterinarians living in endemic area were found to have 7.8 times higher risk of brucella infection than the ones living in non-endemic area (OR; 7.8, Confidence interval; 1.4–40.9, p = 0.015). The prevalence of Coxiella burnetii serology was equal in both regions as 7%, and none of the seropositives had complaints. The history of tick bite was significantly more common in the endemic region than the non-endemic region (35% versus 12%, p = 0.011).

Conclusions:

CCHF and brucellosis compose infection risks for veterinarians in endemic region, despite the veterinarians in endemic region perform less riskfull professional activities. Veterinarians in CCHF endemic regions should be warned to protect themselves against tick bites according to universal precautions. The use of masks should be employed to prevent inhalational transmission of brucellosis in endemic regions.