Seroreactivity and Risk Factors Associated with Infection among Cattle Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea.

Q fever, caused by , is a zoonotic disease that is an occupational hazard to people who work in close contact with animals or their carcasses. A nationwide serologic study among cattle slaughterhouse workers who were presumed to be at risk of having infection in South Korea was performed to investigate the seroreactivity of infection and identify related risk factors. Out of 1017 cattle slaughterhouse workers in South Korea, 923 (90.8%) participated in this cross-sectional study. Samples were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies against phase II via indirect immunofluorescence assay. The overall seroreactivity, defined as IgG or IgM antibody titer cutoffs ≥1:16, was 9.1% (84/923). Additionally, a significant association was found between the seroreactivity of infection and performing carcass evisceration work (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.39⁻4.03) in multivariate analysis. To diminish infection, cattle slaughterhouse workers need to take precautions during the evisceration process.