Occupational risks of zoonotic infections in Dutch forestry workers and muskrat catchers

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A W Moll van Charante1, J Groen, P G Mulder

  • 1Arbo Management Groep, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

European Journal of Epidemiology
|April 29, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Rural outdoor workers face significant infection risks from Lyme borreliosis (LymeB) and Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HemoFRS). Active forestry workers in the Netherlands show high occupational infection risks for these and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LymphoCM).

Area of Science:

  • Occupational health
  • Infectious disease epidemiology
  • Environmental health

Background:

  • Lyme borreliosis (LymeB), Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HemoFRS), Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LymphoCM), Tick-borne encephalitis (TickBE), Q Fever (QFever), and Weil's leptospirosis (Lepto) are recognized occupational diseases for outdoor workers.
  • Understanding the specific infection risks associated with different occupational exposures is crucial for implementing targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify the occupational infection risks for LymeB, HemoFRS, LymphoCM, TickBE, QFever, and Lepto among rural outdoor workers.
  • To compare infection risk levels across different occupational exposure groups.

Main Methods:

  • Antibody prevalence for the targeted infectious agents was assessed in 312 forestry workers and muskrat catchers (rural outdoor workers) and 356 matched office workers (control group).
  • Occupational exposure was categorized into high (active forestry workers), low (supervisory staff, muskrat catchers), and zero (office workers).
  • Prevalence odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for high exposure levels.

Main Results:

  • At high occupational exposure, significantly elevated ORs were observed for LymeB (15 [5.5-42]), HemoFRS (11 [1.3-501]), and LymphoCM (5.4 [1.0-50]).
  • No significant infection risk was found at low exposure levels for any of the investigated diseases.
  • Analysis of a sub-cohort revealed conversion rates for Borrelia burgdorferi (LymeB agent) and HemoFRS, indicating ongoing transmission and infection hazards.

Conclusions:

  • Active forestry workers in the Netherlands face a high risk of occupational infection with Lyme borreliosis, Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis.
  • Antibody prevalence for LymeB and HemoFRS in this population reflects recent infection hazards, underscoring the need for enhanced preventive measures in high-risk occupations.

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