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Kolo FB, Adesiyun AA, Fasina FO, Harris BN, Rossouw J, Byaruhanga C, Geyer HDW, Blumberg L, Frean J, van Heerden H. Brucellosis Seropositivity Using Three Serological Tests and Associated Risk Factors in Abattoir Workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Pathogens 2024; 13:64. [PMID: 38251371 PMCID: PMC10821213 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Abattoir workers are liable to zoonotic infections from animals and animal products, primarily to diseases with asymptomatic and chronic clinical manifestations in animals, such as brucellosis. No published reports exist on the seroprevalence of brucellosis in abattoir workers in South Africa. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the occurrence and risk factors for Brucella exposure in abattoir workers in Gauteng Province. A total of 103 abattoir workers and managers from 6 abattoirs, where brucellosis-positive slaughtered cattle and sheep were previously detected, were interviewed and tested with serological assays using the Rose Bengal test (RBT), BrucellaCapt, and IgG-ELISA. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to consenting respondents to obtain information on risk factors for brucellosis. Of the 103 respondents tested, the distribution of female and male workers was 16 (15.5%) and 87 (84.5%), respectively. The seroprevalence for exposure to brucellosis was 21/103 (20.4%, 95%CI: 13.1-29.5) using a combination of RBT, BrucellaCapt, or IgG-ELISA. For test-specific results, seroprevalences by RBT, BrucellaCapt, and IgG-ELISA were 13/103 (12.6%, 95%CI: 6.9-20.6), 9/103 (8.74%, 95%CI: 4.1-15.9), and 18/103 (17.5%, 95%CI: 10.7-26.2), respectively. Low-throughput abattoirs were identified as associated risks, as 29.3% of workers were seropositive compared with 12.7% of workers in high-throughput abattoirs, which highlights that direct contact at abattoirs poses higher risk to workers than indirect and direct contact outside abattoirs. This study confirms the occurrence of Brucella spp. antibodies among abattoir workers in South Africa, possibly due to occupational exposure to Brucella spp., and highlights the occupational hazard to workers. Furthermore, findings underscore that abattoir facilities can serve as points for active and passive surveillance for indicators of diseases of public health importance. We recommend periodic implementation of brucellosis testing of abattoir workers country-wide to establish baseline data for informing appropriate preventive practices and reducing the potential burden of infection rates among these high-risk workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis B. Kolo
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0182, South Africa; (F.O.F.); (C.B.); (H.v.H.)
| | - Abiodun A. Adesiyun
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0182, South Africa;
| | - Folorunso O. Fasina
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0182, South Africa; (F.O.F.); (C.B.); (H.v.H.)
| | - Bernice N. Harris
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa;
| | - Jennifer Rossouw
- Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2132, South Africa; (J.R.); (H.D.W.G.); (L.B.); (J.F.)
| | - Charles Byaruhanga
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0182, South Africa; (F.O.F.); (C.B.); (H.v.H.)
| | - Hermanus De Wet Geyer
- Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2132, South Africa; (J.R.); (H.D.W.G.); (L.B.); (J.F.)
| | - Lucille Blumberg
- Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2132, South Africa; (J.R.); (H.D.W.G.); (L.B.); (J.F.)
| | - John Frean
- Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2132, South Africa; (J.R.); (H.D.W.G.); (L.B.); (J.F.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Henriette van Heerden
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0182, South Africa; (F.O.F.); (C.B.); (H.v.H.)
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Mazwi KD, Kolo FB, Jaja IF, Bokaba RP, Ngoshe YB, Hassim A, Neves L, van Heerden H. Serological Evidence and Coexposure of Selected Infections among Livestock Slaughtered at Eastern Cape Abattoirs in South Africa. Int J Microbiol 2023; 2023:8906971. [PMID: 38077996 PMCID: PMC10708957 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8906971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic infections were investigated in a cross-sectional study on asymptomatic livestock slaughtered in abattoirs in the Eastern Cape. Antibodies against Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Toxoplasma gondii, and the coexposure were investigated in sera using serological tests. A total of 565 animals comprising of 280 cattle, 200 sheep, and 85 pigs were screened using RBT, iELISA, CFT, and AMOS-PCR. The Mast® Toxoreagent test and iELISA were used for the detection of T. gondii and C. burnetii, respectively. The Brucella positivity based on at least two tests was 4.3% (12/280), 1.0% (2/200), and 0.0% (0/85) in cattle, sheep, and pigs, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity of 37.90% (106/280), 1.50% (3/200), and 7.10% (6/85) was observed in cattle, sheep, and pigs, respectively. Coxiella burnetii seropositivity of 26.40% (74/280), 15.00% (30/200), and 2.40% (2/85) was observed in cattle, sheep, and pigs, respectively. Coexposure was detected in cattle for positivity against C. burnetii and T. gondii 40.54%, Brucella spp. and T. gondii 1.35%, and Brucella spp. and C. burnetii 4.05%. Coexposure for Brucella spp., C. burnetii, and T. gondii 4.05% was detected in cattle. Coexposure of Brucella spp. and C. burnetii 6.67% was detected in sheep. The AMOS-PCR identified B. abortus in cattle and a mixed infection of B. abortus and B. melitensis in sheep in 64.71% seropositive samples. To our knowledge, the coexposure of Brucella spp., T. gondii, and C. burnetii in cattle has not been reported. Coexposure of Brucella spp. and C. burnetii in cattle and sheep is significant as it results in reproductive losses and constitutes an infectious risk to humans. The detection of antibodies against multiple zoonotic infections in livestock from abattoirs has implications for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. D. Mazwi
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - F. B. Kolo
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - I. F. Jaja
- Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - R. P. Bokaba
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Y. B. Ngoshe
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - A. Hassim
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - L. Neves
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - H. van Heerden
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
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van der Westhuizen CG, Burt FJ, van Heerden N, van Zyl W, Anthonissen T, Musoke J. Prevalence and occupational exposure to zoonotic diseases in high-risk populations in the Free State Province, South Africa. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1196044. [PMID: 37342558 PMCID: PMC10277639 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1196044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Zoonotic diseases are responsible for 2.5 billion human cases globally and approximately 2.7 million deaths annually. Surveillance of animal handlers and livestock for zoonotic pathogens contributes to understanding the true disease burden and risk factors within a community. This study investigated the prevalence of selected zoonoses in cattle, farm workers and occupational exposure to endemic zoonotic diseases and their associated risk factors. Methods Sputum samples from farmworkers were screened for Mycobacterium bovis. Blood specimens from farmworkers and archived sera were tested for serological evidence of Brucella sp., hantaviruses, and Leptospira sp. Communal and commercial cattle herds were tested for bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis. Results Mycobacterium bovis was not isolated from human samples. A total of 327 human sera were screened, and 35/327 (10.7%) were Brucella sp. IgG positive, 17/327 (5.2%) Leptospira sp. IgM positive, and 38/327 (11.6%) hantavirus IgG positive (95% CI). A higher proportion of Brucella sp. IgG-positive samples were detected among veterinarians (value of p = 0.0006). Additionally, two cattle from a commercial dairy farm were bovine tuberculosis (bTB) positive using the bTB skin test and confirmatory interferon-gamma assay. A higher percentage of confirmed brucellosis-positive animals were from communal herds (8.7%) compared to commercial herds (1.1%). Discussion These findings highlight the brucellosis and M. bovis prevalence in commercial and communal herds, the zoonotic disease risk in commercial and subsistence farming in developing countries, and the occupational and rural exposure risk to zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felicity J. Burt
- Division of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service, Universitas, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Nina van Heerden
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Willie van Zyl
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Division of Veterinary Services, Kroonstad, South Africa
| | - Tonia Anthonissen
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Division of Veterinary Services, Kroonstad, South Africa
| | - Jolly Musoke
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Service, Universitas, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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