ANTIMICROBIAL ANTIBODIES IN DANISH SLAUGHTERHOUSE WORKERS AND GREENHOUSE WORKERS

As a consequence of contact with animals and animal products slaughter house workers might be at risk of infection with pathogenic microorgan isms. This hypothesis has been supported by some earlier studies. In t his study 217 slaughtermen and a control group of 113 greenhouse worke rs were investigated for the prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxopla sma gondii, Campylobacter jejuni (IgA and IgG), Yersinia enterocolitic a types 3 and 9, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis types I, II, III, IV, and V, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella enteritidis, Sa lmonella typhimurium, and Borrelia burgdorferi. No significant differe nces were found concerning either frequency of positive tests or magni tude of titers. The prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies was remarkably high in both groups.