Human brucellosis: seroprevalence and associated exposure factors among abattoir workers in Abuja, Nigeria - 2011

Mabel Kamweli Aworh; Emmanuel Okolocha; Jacob Kwaga; Folorunso Fasina; David Lazarus; Idris Suleman; Gabrielle Poggensee; Patrick Nguku; Peter Nsubuga

doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.16.103.2143

Human brucellosis: seroprevalence and associated exposure factors among abattoir workers in Abuja, Nigeria - 2011

Pan Afr Med J. 2013 Nov 17:16:103. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2013.16.103.2143. eCollection 2013.

Authors

Mabel Kamweli Aworh¹, Emmanuel Okolocha², Jacob Kwaga², Folorunso Fasina³, David Lazarus³, Idris Suleman⁴, Gabrielle Poggensee¹, Patrick Nguku¹, Peter Nsubuga⁵

Affiliations

¹ Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
² Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
³ Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa and National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
⁵ Global Public Health Solutions, Atlanta, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Brucellosis, a neglected debilitating zoonosis, is a recognized occupational hazard with a high prevalence in developing countries. Transmission to humans can occur through contact with infected animals or animal products. Brucellosis presents with fever. In Nigeria, there is a possibility of missed diagnoses by physicians leading to a long debilitating illness. We conducted a study to determine the seroprevalence and factors associated with Human Brucellosis (HB) among abattoir-workers in Abuja, Nigeria.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and selected abattoir-workers using stratified random sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographics and exposure-factors. We tested the workers' serum-samples using Rose-Bengal (RBPT) and ELISA tests. A worker with HB was one whose serum tested positive to RBPT or ELISA. We tested differences in proportions between workers with HB and those without HB using odds-ratio and X(2) tests.

Results: Of 224 workers, 172 (76.8%) were male and mean age was 30 + 9.0 years. Of 224 sera collected, 54 were positive giving a seroprevalence of 24.1%. Of these, 32 (59.3%) were butchers, and 11 (20.4%) were meat-sellers. Slaughtering animals while having open-wounds (Odds-ratio (OR) = 2.15, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.15-4.04); occupational-exposure of >5years (OR = 2.30, CI = 1.11-4.78) and eating raw meat (OR = 2.75, CI = 1.21-6.26) were significantly associated with HB. Multivariate analyses showed that occupational-exposure of >5years (Adjusted OR (AOR) =2.45, CI = 1.15 - 5.30) and eating raw-meat (AOR = 2.64, CI = 1.14 - 6.14) remained significantly associated with HB.

Conclusion: Seroprevalence of HB among abattoir-workers in Abuja was high. Factors associated with HB were occupational-exposure of >5years and eating raw-meat. Abattoir-workers should be discouraged from eating raw-meat and educated on adherence to safe animal-product handling practices.

Keywords: Brucellosis; Nigeria; abattoir; exposure factors; occupational hazard; seroprevalence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abattoirs*
Adult
Animals
Brucellosis / epidemiology*
Brucellosis / etiology
Brucellosis / prevention & control
Cross-Sectional Studies
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Nigeria / epidemiology
Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Time Factors
Young Adult
Zoonoses / epidemiology
Zoonoses / prevention & control