[Sero-epidemiological studies of zoonotic infections in hunters--comparative analysis with veterinarians, farmers, and abattoir workers].
The aim of this study was to investigate seroprevalences to zoonotic pathogens in hunters, to compare the results with other predisposed occupational groups already investigated and to propose preventive measures. Blood samples were taken from 146 male and 3 female hunters from the provinces of Styria and Burgenland in the south-east of Austria and anamnestic data were obtained using a questionnaire. The serological investigations included the following bacterial, viral and parasitic zoonotic agents or zoonoses, respectively (antibody prevalence rates in brackets): borreliosis (IgG 42%, IgM 7%), brucellosis (1%), chlamydiosis (3%), ehrlichiosis (IgG 15%, IgM 3%), leptospirosis (10%), tularaemia (3%), Q fever (0%), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV, 15%), Puumala-Hantavirus (10%), Newcastle Disease virus (4%), Echinococcus multilocularis/E. granulosus (5%/11%), toxocariasis (17%). Particularly striking in comparison with the control group and the veterinarians, farmers and slaughterhouse workers examined in earlier projects were the high seroprevalences to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia spp., Leptospira interrogans, E. granulosus and E. multilocularis, encephalomyocarditis, Puumala-Hantavirus and Newcastle Disease virus as well as to Brucella abortus and Francisella tularensis. The present study indicates that hunters are especially exposed to zoonotic pathogens.
Deutz
Armin
A
Fachabteilung 8C - Veterinärwesen beim Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Graz. armin.deutz@stmk.gv.at
Fuchs
Klemens
K
Nowotny
Norbert
N
Auer
Herbert
H
Schuller
Walter
W
Stünzner
Doris
D
Aspöck
Horst
H
Kerbl
Ulrike
U
Köfer
Josef
J
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*