This study investigated the prevalence of two zoonotic diseases, leptospirosis and Q fever, in slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. The researchers surveyed 738 slaughterhouse workers from 142 slaughterhouses. They found that 13.4% of workers tested positive for leptospirosis and 4.5% tested positive for Q fever. Poor hygiene practices like having wounds, smoking or eating at work, cleaning intestines, and not wearing protective clothing were identified as significant risk factors for exposure to the diseases. The researchers will use these risk factors to develop targeted interventions to reduce disease transmission and educate workers on improved hygiene.

1. Table 1 Prevalence of leptospirosis
Slaughterhouse Zoonoses
Leptospirosis and Q fever in Kenya
E.A.J. Cook1,2
, W.A. de Glanville1,2
, L.F. Thomas1,2
, B.M.D. Bronsvoort3
, S. Kariuki4
and E.M. Fèvre2,5
 Globally slaughterhouse workers are high risk due to contact with animals
 No previous studies in Kenya investigating zoonoses in slaughterhouse workers
 Poor hygiene practices contribute to transmission of zoonotic diseases
Background
Materials and methods
1 Centre for Infectious Diseases and Centre for Immunity,
Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth
Laboratories, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT UK
2 International Livestock Research Institute
(ILRI), Old Naivasha Road, PO Box, 30709-
00100,
3 Epidemiology, Economics and Risk Assessment
Group, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh,
Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
4 Centre for Microbiology Research,
Kenya Medical Research Institute
PO Box 54840 , 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Objective
Identify risk factors
associated with zoonotic
disease exposure in
slaughterhouse workers
Outcomes
 Prevalence of
leptospirosis and Q fever
 Risk factors associated
with exposure
Study site
45km radius from
Busia, Kenya
Study population
142 slaughterhouses
738 slaughterhouse
workers
Sampling procedure
Questionnaire
 Risk factors
 Knowledge of
zoonoses
Biological samples
Blood
Sample analysis
 Panbio Leptospira
IgM ELISA (Alere,
Australia)
 Classic Coxiella bur-
netii Phase 2 IgG
ELISA (Serion, Ger-
many)
Data analysis
 Mixed effects multi-
variable logistic re-
gression
 Risk maps created
using Kernel
smoothing
Results
Fig 1 Map of slaughterhouses in study
area in western Kenya
Zoonoses Prevalence
n=738
95% CI
Leptospirosis 13.4% 11.1-16.1
Thanks to the MRC, Wellcome Trust and the University of Edinburgh for supporting this work
Conclusions
 Slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya exposed to leptospirosis and Q fever
 Poor hygiene practices associated with exposure
 Identified risk factors will be used to develop targeted interventions
 Targeted interventions discussed with local veterinary and public health officials
5 Institute of Infection and Global Health,
University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus,
Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
Risk factor OR 95 % CI
Having wounds 2.7 1.4-5.3
Smoking at work 1.8 1.1-3.0
Eating at work 2.1 1.2-3.6
Cleaning intestines 3.8 1.8-8.2
Antemortem exam 0.6 0.4-0.9
Slaughterhouse >5
workers
2.4 1.2-4.7
Workers wear protective
clothing (PPE)
0.3 0.2-0.5
Table 4 Significant risk factors for
Q fever
Table 2 Significant risk factors for
leptospirosis
Zoonoses Prevalence
n=738
95% CI
Q fever 4.5% 3.2-6.2
Table 3 Prevalence of Q fever
Risk factor OR 95 % CI
Intoxicated at work 3.2 1.1-9.4
Workers wear protective
clothing
0.3 0.1-0.9
Fig 2 Risk maps of lepto (left) and Q fever in workers
Risk