Potential sources of infection with selected zoonotic agents in the veterinary work environment - pilot studies.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The problem of occupational biohazards is very important, especially in the field of agriculture and in human and veterinary medicine. The aim of the study was to determine the potential sources of infection in veterinary professionals with selected zoonotic agents, including:,,spp.,spp. and. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 50 air samples from barns, piggeries and veterinary surgeries were examined for the presence ofspp. andDNA. Serum samples of 86 pigs and 80 cows were tested for the presence of antibodies tospp. and to phase I and IIantigens. Serum of 70 cats were tested for the presence of antibodies toand 65 samples of cat faeces for the presence ofoocysts. The presence ofandspp. were examined in 50 of dog faeces and 50 of bovine faeces samples. RESULTS: DNA ofspp. was detected in 2 air samples from the piggeries (4%).DNA was not found in any sample. Anti-spp. antibodies were detected in 51 (59.3%) of examined pigs. Neither anti-spp. nor anti-antibodies were found among samples of bovine serum. Anti-antibodies was found in 52 cat serum samples (74.3%). Among samples of cat faeces, nooocysts were detected. In one sample of cattle stool (2%),was detected and in another (2%) -spp.was detected in 7 samples (14%) andspp. in 2 samples (2%) of dog faeces. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate the potential risk of infection withspp. in veterinarians working with pigs. Veterinarians could be also be at risk of infection withand.