Campylobacter pylori in abattoir workers: is it a zoonosis?
Sera from 98 abattoir workers were tested for IgG to Campylobacter pylori, C jejuni, and klebsiella. Clerical workers had significantly lower C pylori and C jejuni IgG titres than any of the groups in direct contact with freshly cut animal parts. No difference was found for antibodies to klebsiella. 28 non-clerical workers with high-titre C pylori IgG consented to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. C pylori associated gastritis was found in all 28, and four weeks of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (240 mg twice daily) was prescribed. On repeat testing at three months all showed a decrease in IgG titres to C pylori but not to C jejuni, whereas 18 untreated non-endoscoped workers showed no change. These findings raise the possibility that C pylori infection is a zoonosis.
D000003:Abattoirs; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000276:immunology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015047:Zoonoses
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate; D001729:Bismuth