Seroprevalence of Leptospirosis in Coal Miners in Zonguldak Region/Zonguldak Bolgesinde Komur Madeni Iscilerinde Leptospiroz Seroprevalansi

• Published in: KLIMIK dergisi 2019-08, Vol.32 (2), p.174
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Ozlem, Celebi, Guven, Atabek, Erdinc, Kokturk, Furuzan, Atakent, Sahenis Deniz, Piskin, Nihal, Aydemir, Hande
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Bacteria; Beverages; Coal industry; Coal miners; Coal mining; Disease transmission; Environmental quality; Epidemiology; Farmers; Gram-negative bacteria; Handwashing; Hunters; Hunting; Hygiene; Leptospirosis; Meat industry; Military personnel; Occupations; Research institutes; Rodents; Skin; Workers; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1301-143X
• DOI: 10.5152/kd.2019.38

Objective: Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide. Transmission to humans usually occurs by mucosal inoculation of the bacteria or exposure of non-intact skin via contact with water or soil contaminated with urine or feces of rodents. Occupational groups such as farmers, rice plant workers, sewer workers, miners, hunters, military personnel, mariners, shepherds, milkers, slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians and laboratory personnel are under risk for leptospirosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in coal miners in Zonguldak region. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from total 185 volunteer coal miners, who worked in 5 coal mines of Turkish Hard Coal Authority in Zonguldak and Bartin provinces, during June and July 2013. Serum samples were stored at -80[degrees]C. Additionally, we conducted an interview with each miner about demographical and epidemiological data such as age, location, duration of mining, other occupations, observing rodent or rodent excreta in the mine, noticing rodent contact with personal belongings or drinks or food in mine and hand hygiene compliance. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT), the reference diagnostic test for seroepidemiological studies of leptospirosis, was conducted in Spirochetal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Etlik, Ankara in June 2014. Anti-Leptospira antibody levels for 8 serotypes (Leptospira grippotyphosa Moskva V, L. australis Bratislava Jez Bratislava, L. canicola Hund Utrech IV, L. hardjo Hardjoprajitno, L. pomona Pomona, L. icterohaemorrhagiae Ictero 1, L. hebdomadis Hebdomadis ve L. patoc Patoc 1) was investigated with MAT Results: All the miners were male and the mean age was 36[+ or -]6. The mean duration of working in underground part of the mine was 11[+ or -]6 years, the mean working hours was 44[+ or -]6 hours a week on average. Distribution of the miners according to inhabiting location was 18.5% village, 50.3% county and 30.8% city. In addition to mining, some of the miners were also occupied with farming (7%), hunting (2.7%), seafaring (0.5%) and livestock raising (0.5%). 82.7% of the miners confirmed seeing rodents in the mine every day and 35.7% of the miners confirmed seeing rodent excreta in the mine. 68.1% reported observing sign of rodent bite on their clothes or food saving box. 91.9% of the miners reported that they saved their food in plastic or paper bags up to meal time.