Abstract | BACKGROUND: Slaughterhouse workers are in direct contact with cattle nearly every day. The purpose of this study was to survey the presence and distribution of anti- Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) immunoglobulin G ( IgG) in slaughterhouse workers, enabling a study of the serologic response to this toxin while working in an area at high-risk of Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection. METHODS: One thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine serum samples from healthy slaughterhouse employees were collected and surveyed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Among the 5 slaughterhouse positions, slaughterers had the highest distribution of anti-Stx1 IgG values by an ELISA. Based on the ELISA values, 25% (433/1729) of the workers had anti-Stx1 IgG. Slaughterers, residual products handlers, inspectors, livestock hygiene controllers, and grading testers had anti-Stx1 IgG-positive rates of 28%, 25%, 20%, 19%, and 17%, respectively. The ELISA values of anti-Stx1 IgG increased with increases in the number of years worked by slaughterers, but not by residual products handlers, inspectors, livestock hygiene controllers, or grading testers. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, slaughterhouse workers are healthy and asymptomatic; slaughterers in particular are at high-risk for STEC exposure.
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Authors | Sahyun Hong, Kyung-Hwan Oh, Seung-Hak Cho, Seong-Han Kim, Bok-Kwon Lee, Seok-Ju Yoo, Hyun-Sul Lim, Mi-Sun Park |
Journal | Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases
(Scand J Infect Dis)
Vol. 44
Issue 3
Pg. 168-73
(Mar 2012)
ISSN: 1651-1980 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22074490
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Bacterial
- Antitoxins
- Immunoglobulin G
- Shiga Toxin
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Topics |
- Abattoirs
- Adult
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial
(blood)
- Antitoxins
(blood)
- Cattle
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Human Experimentation
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G
(blood)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Occupational Exposure
- Republic of Korea
- Shiga Toxin
(immunology)
- Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli
(immunology)
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