Exposure of abattoirs workers to rift valley fever virus infection in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Tarik A. Al-Azraqi, Awad A. El Mekki, Ahmed A. Mahfouz

Departments of Clinical Microbiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Departments of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Departments of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2013.31004                

Abstract

Objective: To measure seroprevalence of Rift Valley Fever virus infection among abattoirs workers in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Abattoirs in the region (Jazan, Aseer and Al Qunfuda) were visited. Veterinarians and butchers were studied. Blood samples were then taken and tested for RVF-specific IgG and IgM (ELISAs). Results: The present study included 62 abattoir workers. None of whom tested were positive for RVF specific IgM. The overall prevalence of RVF IgG among butchers reached 8% (95% CI: 1.3 - 75.8). Among the 31 Bengali butchers 3 were RVF IgG positive giving a prevalence of 9.7 % (95% CI: 2.0 - 25.8), while among four Saudi butchers one was RVF IgG positive (25%, 95% CI: 1.3 - 75.8). Conclusions: The study documented the lack of recent RVF activity among abattoirs workers. High-risk, occupationally exposed abattoir workers represent a useful sentinel population for surveillance of RVF, especially in the absence of clinical disease.

Keywords

Rift Valley Fever; Sero-Epidemiologic Studies; Abattoirs; Saudi Arabia

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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