Chlamydiosis in workers at a duck farm and processing plant

An outbreak of chlamydiosis was investigated in workers at a duck farm and processing plant during winter 1989. Chlamydia psittaci was isolated from ducks, but there was little evidence of clinical chlamydiosis in the ducks. Serological tests showed that 76% of workers had been exposed to infection,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian veterinary journal Vol. 70; no. 5; p. 174
Main Authors Hinton, D G, Shipley, A, Galvin, J W, Harkin, J T, Brunton, R A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.05.1993
Subjects
Adult
Animal Husbandry
Animals
Chlamydophila psittaci - isolation & purification
Disease Outbreaks
Ducks - microbiology
Female
Food-Processing Industry
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Psittacosis - epidemiology
Victoria - epidemiology
Zoonoses - microbiology
Victoria
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Summary:An outbreak of chlamydiosis was investigated in workers at a duck farm and processing plant during winter 1989. Chlamydia psittaci was isolated from ducks, but there was little evidence of clinical chlamydiosis in the ducks. Serological tests showed that 76% of workers had been exposed to infection, 12% recently, 16% had not been exposed and 8% had inconclusive test results. There was a strong association (P < 0.05) between years of employment and exposure to infection. Infection appeared to be contracted during the first year of employment. Measures were implemented to reduce shed contamination and control rodents and wild birds. At the same time, ducks were medicated, the processing plant was modified, work practices were altered and workers were advised about chlamydiosis to reduce the risk of human infection.
ISSN:0005-0423
DOI:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb06123.x