Laboratory health care workers are at a high risk due to

infectious occupational risks of Brucella

DR. MESHREF AWAD AL-RUWAILIDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences,

College of Applied Medical Sciences , Al Jouf University

INTRODUCTION

• The prevalence of human brucellosis in Saudi Arabia has reached an alarmingly high level in recent years, which is believed to be due to a large extent to the consumption of raw camel milk, a widely spread habit among the population of this country.

• Camels are not known to be primary hosts for any of Brucella organisms, but they are susceptible to both B. abortus and B. melitensis .

OBJECTIVES

• The present work was aimed to detect the occurrence of brucellosis among health care workers

• This study was conducted during the year 2010 to 2011 in Al-Jouf area Saudi Arabia.

• The study involve a total of 497 health care workers, information of each individual was obtained.

• Blood samples were collected from 216 (43.5%) health care workers of both sexes.

METHODOLOGY

The blood was allowed to clot and the sera were separated by centrifugation and stored at -20°C until testing.

Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) technique was adopted using commercial coated plates.

The test was carried out according to (1)

The CHEKT brucellosis serum ELISA test kit provides a rapid , simple , sensitive and specific method for detecting antibodies against Brucella abortus ( B.abortus )

(1) Alton, G.G., L. M.Jones, R.D. Angus and J.M.Verger, 1988 Techniques for Brucellosis Laboratory, (INRA Paris).

WIDAL TEST FOR BRUCELLOSIS

• All sera were screened for Brucella antibody by agglutination method using Widal test for brucellosis .

• Samples showing positive result for Brucella were further repeated using CHEKT brucellosis serum ELISA test kit.

RESULT

• Fig (1):Frequency of brucellosis in hospital workers

• Fig (2):Frequency of Male and Female

CONCLUSION

• The survey confirms the presence of Brucella species among health-care workers in Al-jouf area and shows a significant prevalence rate.

• The health authorities should recognize this and should be prepared to apply intervention strategies in order to prevent and control brucellosis in the future.