Knowledge, practice, and risk of exposure of abattoir workers to Mycobacterium spp. in abattoirs and non-abattoir environments in Gauteng province, South Africa

Abstract

Zoonotic tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, remains a global public health hazard. Information based on knowledge, practices, and associated risks among high-risk occupations, such as veterinarians and abattoir workers, is crucial. A close-end questionnaire was used to interview 103 abattoir workers during sampling visits, and data on their knowledge, practices, and potential exposure to Mycobacterium spp. were collected. More males (87/103, 84.47%) participated in the study, with the majority (83/103, 80.58%) working in the abattoirs’ slaughter and meat processing sections. A high proportion (88.35%) of participants were knowledgeable about TB. A relatively low proportion of abattoir workers were aware that they could transmit TB to animals (44.6%) and that they could acquire the disease from animals (45.7%), suggesting that they may know about the disease but little about its mode of transmission. To reduce exposure to infectious bacteria, personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn when handling carcasses at abattoirs, with 95.15% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.92–99.37) reporting its use. Non-abattoir potential exposure to Mycobacterium spp. among abattoir workers included the consumption of undercooked meat (10.68%; 95% CI: 4.61–16.75), slaughtering of animals at home (47.57%; 95% CI: 37.76–57.38), and consuming raw milk (25.24%; 95% CI: 16.71–33.77). It is therefore not enough for abattoir workers to know about bovine TB; they must also understand other aspects of the disease, particularly its transmission.
Contribution: Our findings revealed a high proportion of workers following good PPE donning practices when handling carcasses, thereby minimising the transmission of zoonotic diseases such as TB. Consumption of raw milk and undercooked meat are significant risks associated with the transmission of zoonotic TB. Therefore, to reduce the risks and improve the overall well-being, awareness programmes regarding control and prevention are crucial.