title: Human brucellosis: seroprevalence and associated exposure factors among abattoir workers in Abuja, Nigeria - 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mabel Kamweli
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Aworh
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okolocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa and National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Folorunso
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fasina
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa and National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suleman
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poggensee
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguku
authors.affiliation: Global Public Health Solutions, Atlanta, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nsubuga
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Brucellosis; Nigeria; abattoir; exposure factors; occupational hazard; seroprevalence