Online Program

287599
Occupational exposure to farm animals and antibody biomarkers of campylobacter jejuni exposure and autoimmune peripheral neuropathy


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 3:34 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

Leora Vegosen, Ph.D., M.H.S., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Patrick N. Breysse, MHS, PhD, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Jacqueline Agnew, RN, MPH, PhD, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Gregory C. Gray, M.D., M.P.H., College of Public Health and Health Professions and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Irving Nachamkin, Dr.PH., M.P.H., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Kazim Sheikh, M.D., Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX
Freya Kamel, Ph.D., M.P.H., Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC
Ellen Silbergeld, Ph.D., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Background and Objectives: Foodborne Campylobacter jejuni infection has been associated with an increased risk of autoimmune peripheral neuropathy, but risks of occupational exposure to C. jejuni have received less attention. This study compared anti-C. jejuni IgA, IgG, and IgM antibody levels, as well as likelihood of testing positive for any of five anti-ganglioside autoantibodies, between farmers and non-farmers. The relationship between anti-C. jejuni antibody levels and detection of anti-ganglioside autoantibodies was also assessed. Methods: Serum samples collected in 2006 from 129 animal farmers from the Agricultural Health Study and 46 non-farmers from Iowa were analyzed for anti-C. jejuni antibodies and anti-ganglioside autoantibodies using ELISA. Information on animal exposures was assessed using questionnaire data. Mann-Whitney tests and linear regression on log-transformed outcomes were used to compare anti-C. jejuni antibody levels between groups. Fisher's Exact Tests and logistic regression were used to compare positivity for anti-ganglioside autoantibodies between groups. Results: Farmers had significantly higher levels of anti-C. jejuni IgA (p < 0.0001) and IgG (p = 0.02) antibodies compared to non-farmers. A higher percentage of farmers tested positive for anti-ganglioside autoantibodies compared to non-farmers, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.11). There was no significant association between anti-C. jejuni antibody levels and positivity for anti-ganglioside autoantibodies. Conclusions: The findings provide evidence that farmers who work with animals are at increased risk of exposure to C. jejuni. Occupational exposure to C. jejuni in the farm environment is a health risk that should be addressed by policymakers.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Epidemiology
Occupational health and safety
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe occupational exposures to pathogens in the farm environment. Discuss neurologic outcomes of occupational exposures in the farm environment. Describe the association between Campylobacter jejuni infection and risk of autoimmune peripheral neuropathy. Compare anti-Campylobacter jejuni IgA, IgG, and IgM antibody levels between farmers and non-farmers. Compare the likelihood of testing positive for anti-ganglioside autoantibodies between farmers and non-farmers. Assess the relationship between anti-Campylobacter jejuni antibody levels and detection of anti-ganglioside autoantibodies. Discuss the role of policymakers in reducing occupational health hazards on the farm.

Keyword(s): Occupational Health, Agricultural Work Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I received my Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in December 2012. My dissertation research focused on occupational exposure to Campylobacter jejuni and autoimmune peripheral neuropathy in cattle, poultry, and swine farmers. I received a CLF Innovation Grant and NIOSH ERC Pilot Project Research Training Award to fund this research. I was a Sommer Scholar and received the Kruse Award and ACR Abbott Graduate Student Achievement Award.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.