Abstract
Occupational risk assessment for Cryptosporidiosis among NJ Dairy Farmers
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Background: Cryptosporidium parvum is known to infect various animals resulting in cryptosporidiosis. Due to its prevalence among dairy cattle and the propensity for dairy farmers not to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), the risk of cryptosporidiosis in dairy farmers and how PPE affects that risk was assessed.
Methods: A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was developed to model the risk of cryptosporidiosis to dairy farmers by examining exposure pathways to infected cow feces during farm maintenance and how PPE mitigates these exposures. 70 fecal samples were collected from cattle at farms throughout NJ, DNA was extracted and C. parvum concentrations were calculated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Pathways for transmission were determined through observations of farmhands and their PPE usage. Annualized personal risk of cryptosporidiosis was assessed with and without PPE by performing a QMRA in R.
Results: The annual risk of cryptosporidiosis is 8.9% in farmers. However, this risk can be reduced to 0.093% with regular handwashing and PPE.
Conclusion: By evaluating the effect of PPE on the risk of cryptosporidiosis, this research can inform local recommendations to ensure the occupational safety of dairy farmers. Recommendations include working with veterinarians and public health departments to promote health education, quarantining of sick cattle, and increasing farmer safety protocols.