<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction:</bold> Exposure to zoonotic factors in veterinary practice is closely related to the nature of the work. The main aim of the study was to determine the risk of selected zoonotic infections among the occupational group of veterinarians in Poland.<bold>Material and Methods:</bold> Blood samples of 373 veterinarians (162 males and 211 females) from 12 provinces of Poland were collected by the venipuncture of a forearm for serological tests. Commercial immunoenzymatic tests (ELISA) were used for detection of specific IgG antibodies to <italic>Echinococcus granulosus,</italic> IgM and IgG to <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp., and IgM, IgA, and I and II phase IgG to <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic>. Enzyme-linked fluorescence assays (ELFA) were used to detect IgM and IgG antibodies to <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic>.<bold>Results:</bold> Positive results were found in 209 (56.0%) veterinarians for at least one of the examined diseases. The overall proportion of participants found to have specific <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> antibodies in the IgM and/or IgG assays amounted to 44.5%. The presence of <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic> antibodies was found in 16 (4.3%) subjects, while <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. antibodies were detected in 63 (16.9%) veterinarians. Among the 373 veterinarians examined, no <italic>Echinococcus granulosus</italic> antibodies were found.<bold>Conclusion:</bold> Results of the study seem to indicate a slightly elevated risk of <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> infection and a moderate risk of infection with <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp. and <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic> in veterinarians.</abstract>

Introduction: Exposure to zoonotic factors in veterinary practice is closely related to the nature of the work. The main aim of the study was to determine the risk of selected zoonotic infections among the occupational group of veterinarians in Poland.Material and Methods: Blood samples of 373 veterinarians (162 males and 211 females) from 12 provinces of Poland were collected by the venipuncture of a forearm for serological tests. Commercial immunoenzymatic tests (ELISA) were used for detection of specific IgG antibodies to Echinococcus granulosus, IgM and IgG to Leptospira spp., and IgM, IgA, and I and II phase IgG to Coxiella burnetii. Enzyme-linked fluorescence assays (ELFA) were used to detect IgM and IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii.Results: Positive results were found in 209 (56.0%) veterinarians for at least one of the examined diseases. The overall proportion of participants found to have specific Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the IgM and/or IgG assays amounted to 44.5%. The presence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies was found in 16 (4.3%) subjects, while Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 63 (16.9%) veterinarians. Among the 373 veterinarians examined, no Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were found.Conclusion: Results of the study seem to indicate a slightly elevated risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection and a moderate risk of infection with Leptospira spp. and Coxiella burnetii in veterinarians.

Study on <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic>, <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp., <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic>, and <italic>Echinococcus granulosus</italic> infection in veterinarians from Poland

Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health

Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Rural Health

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Study on ,  spp., , and  infection in veterinarians from Poland

Introduction: Exposure to zoonotic factors in veterinary practice is closely related to the nature of the work. The main aim of the study was to determine the...

Study on Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Echinococcus granulosus infection in veterinarians from Poland

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 477 - 483

Received: Jul 10, 2018

Accepted: Nov 23, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2018-0069

Keywords
veterinarians, spp.,

© 2018 Angelina Wójcik-Fatla et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Study on Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Echinococcus granulosus infection in veterinarians from Poland

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 477 - 483

Received: Jul 10, 2018

Accepted: Nov 23, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2018-0069

Keywordsveterinarians, spp.,

© 2018 Angelina Wójcik-Fatla et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
veterinarians, spp.,