1 Epidemic Intelligence Service Program, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
2 Public Health Division, Wyoming Department of Health, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2019 May;19(5):316-322. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2360. Epub 2018 Dec 1.
Tularemia is a zoonotic infection caused by the highly infectious bacterium . Persons having outdoor professions are more likely than others to be exposed to through increased contact with arthropods, infected animals, and contaminated aerosols. After a tularemia epizootic during July and August 2015 at Devils Tower National Monument and an associated tularemia infection in a park employee, we assessed seroprevalence of antibodies, risk factors for seropositivity, and use of protective measures among park employees. Seroprevalence among participating employees was 13% (3/23). Seropositive employees reported multiple risk factors for exposure through both job-related and recreational activities. Activities reported by more seropositive than seronegative employees included using a power blower (67% vs. 5%, = 0.03), collecting animal carcasses (100% vs. 30%, = 0.047), and hunting prairie dogs recreationally (67% vs. 5%, = 0.03). Seropositive employees reported exposure to more ticks (median 30, range 25-35) than seronegative employees (median 6, range 0-25, = 0.001). Most employees used protective measures (, insect repellent) inconsistently but increased use after receiving educational materials. Educating and enabling at-risk employees to use protective measures consistently, both at work and during recreational activities, can reduce exposure during epizootics.
兔热病是一种由高度传染性细菌引起的人畜共患病。与节肢动物、受感染动物和受污染的气溶胶接触增加的户外职业人员比其他人更容易接触到 。在 2015 年 7 月至 8 月 Devils 塔国家纪念碑发生兔热病流行疫情以及一名公园员工感染相关的兔热病后，我们评估了公园员工的 抗体血清阳性率、 血清阳性的危险因素以及防护措施的使用情况。参与研究的员工的血清阳性率为 13%（3/23）。血清阳性的员工报告了与工作相关和娱乐活动相关的多种 暴露危险因素。报告的活动包括使用动力吹尘机（67%比 5%，=0.03）、收集动物尸体（100%比 30%，=0.047）和娱乐性猎捕草原犬鼠（67%比 5%，=0.03），比血清阴性的员工更频繁。血清阳性的员工报告接触到的蜱虫更多（中位数 30，范围 25-35）比血清阴性的员工（中位数 6，范围 0-25，=0.001）。大多数员工使用防护措施（驱虫剂）不一致，但在收到教育材料后使用频率增加。教育和使处于危险中的员工在工作和娱乐活动中始终如一地使用防护措施，可以减少流行期间的接触。
