Najim Mustafa A, Almutawif Yahya A, Eid Hamza M A, Yousuf Amjad M, Alahmadi Hazem A, Alharbi Muath E, Aljabri Ziad O, Makhdoom Hatim M, Yoniss Mohammed S, El-Rahim Ibrahim H A Abd, Alshengeti Amer
Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah 41411, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Environmental and Health Research, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia.
Vet World. 2024 Aug;17(8):1661-1666. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.1661-1666. Epub 2024 Aug 3.
Brucellosis is a highly contagious, neglected zoonotic disease of major importance worldwide. The disease is endemic in many countries, burdening healthcare systems and the livestock industry and representing a persistent public health concern in these countries. Brucellosis is considered an important occupational hazard for livestock workers. Limited studies have investigated human brucellosis in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis among employees of high-risk brucellosis professions, including veterinarians, animal herders, and abattoir workers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and to determine the associated risk factors.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, during the period of January-March 2023. Ninety blood samples were collected from individuals occupationally at risk of exposure to infections. Serum samples were examined for immunoglobulins (Ig)M and IgG antibodies against using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Before sample collection, a predesigned online questionnaire was used to collect the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and the probable risk factors for human brucellosis. A Chi-square test was used to compare the differences among groups; p 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Among the 90 participants among the high-risk individuals, IgM and IgG seropositivity were found in 8 (8.8%) and 11 (12.12%) cases, respectively. IgM mono antibody positivity was observed in 4 (4.44%) and 7 (7.77%) of the study population who tested positive for IgG only. Dual positivity for IgM and IgG antibodies was observed in 4 (4.44%) participants. No significant association was determined between seropositivity and age, urbanicity, education, occupation, and duration of exposure (p > 0.05).
Brucellosis is a high-risk occupational disease among workers with close contact with livestock. This study demonstrates that the seroprevalence of brucellosis among occupationally high-risk individuals in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, is relatively low compared to other countries in the region. Nevertheless, educational programs should be implemented to improve knowledge regarding brucellosis, particularly among high-risk individuals.
布鲁氏菌病是一种具有高度传染性、被忽视的人畜共患病，在全球范围内具有重要意义。该病在许多国家呈地方性流行，给医疗系统和畜牧业带来负担，并在这些国家持续引发公共卫生问题。布鲁氏菌病被认为是家畜工人面临的一项重要职业危害。在沙特阿拉伯，对人类布鲁氏菌病的研究有限。因此，本研究旨在估计沙特阿拉伯麦地那从事布鲁氏菌病高风险职业的员工（包括兽医、牧民和屠宰场工人）中布鲁氏菌病的患病率，并确定相关风险因素。
2023年1月至3月期间，在沙特阿拉伯麦地那进行了一项横断面研究。从有职业暴露感染风险的个体中采集了90份血液样本。使用间接酶联免疫吸附测定法检测血清样本中针对布鲁氏菌的免疫球蛋白（Ig）M和IgG抗体。在样本采集前，使用预先设计的在线问卷收集参与者的社会人口学特征以及人类布鲁氏菌病的可能风险因素。采用卡方检验比较各组之间的差异；p<0.05被认为具有统计学意义。
在90名高风险个体参与者中，分别有8例（8.8%）和11例（12.12%）检测出IgM和IgG血清阳性。仅IgG检测呈阳性的研究人群中，有4例（4.44%）和7例（7.77%）观察到IgM单抗体阳性。4名（4.44%）参与者观察到IgM和IgG抗体双重阳性。血清阳性与年龄、城市化程度、教育程度、职业和暴露持续时间之间未确定有显著关联（p>0.05）。
布鲁氏菌病是与家畜密切接触的工人中的一种高风险职业病。本研究表明，与该地区其他国家相比，沙特阿拉伯麦地那职业高风险个体中布鲁氏菌病的血清阳性率相对较低。尽管如此，但仍应实施教育计划，以提高对布鲁氏菌病的认识，特别是在高风险个体中。
