Serological Survey of Leptospirosis among Poultry Farm and Slaughterhouse Workers and its Co-relation with the Risk Factors

Abstract

Leptospirosis is an acute, bacterial, anthropozoonotic disease. Some occupations are highrisk group occupations for Leptospirosis e.g. field veterinarian, animal handler, dairy workers, slaughterhouse workers, rice field workers, sugar-cane field workers, sewage workers, and laboratory personnel. Poultry is known to be resistant to Leptospira spp. infection but the feed stuff available at poultry farms which are mostly located in the field attracts wild rodents. So it is important to study the prevalence of Leptospira spp. among poultry farm workers and slaughterhouse workers and its correlation with their occupational practices. To determine the prevalence of Leptospira spp. among poultry farm & slaughterhouse workers and its correlation with the occupational practices of them. To check the presence of Leptospiral antibodies in carrier and reservoir animals, present in the working environment of poultry farms and slaughterhouses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017 at poultry farms of Navsari district and slaughterhouse of two cities of Gujarat viz., Ahmedabad and Surat. A total of 108 asymptomatic workers, 50 poultry farm and 58 slaughterhouse workers were enrolled with their written consent; a blood sample was collected and subjected to Leptospira spp. IgG ELISA. Information regarding occupational practices was collected using predesigned, semi-structured validate proforma. To check the presence of Leptospiral antibodies a total of 83 animals’ blood samples collected from poultry farms (n=28) and slaughterhouses (n=55). The collected data were co-related and analysed using SPSS version 25. The current study showed that the prevalence of Leptospira spp. among the poultry farm workers of Navsari district was 4 % (n=50). The study showed that the prevalence of Leptospira spp. among the slaughterhouse workers was 12.06 % (n=58). Leptospiral antibodies reported in 3.57 % (n=28) and 1.81% (n=55) of carrier and reservoir animals present at poultry farms and slaughterhouses respectively.