Epidemiologic Investigation of Immune-Mediated Polyradiculoneuropathy Among Abattoir Workers Exposed to Porcine Brain

Details

• Personal Author:
  Adjemian J ; Belay ED ; Brueck, Scott E. ; Buss BF ; Danila RN ; DeVries AS ; Dyck PJB ; Gibbins, John D. ; Harris JR ; Holzbauer SM ; Hornig M ; Howell JF ; Lachance DH ; Lees CH ; Lexau CA ; Lipkin WI ; Lynfield R ; McQuiston JH ; Medus C ; Recuenco SE ; Sejvar JJ ; Smith KE
• Description:
  Background: In October 2007, a cluster of patients experiencing a novel polyradiculoneuropathy was identified at a pork abattoir (Plant A). Patients worked in the primary carcass processing area (warm room); the majority processed severed heads (head-table). An investigation was initiated to determine risk factors for illness. Methods and Results: Symptoms of the reported patients were unlike previously described occupational associated illnesses. A case-control study was conducted at Plant A. A case was defined as evidence of symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and compatible electrodiagnostic testing in a pork abattoir worker. Two control groups were used - randomly selected non-ill warm-room workers (n = 49), and all non-ill head-table workers (n = 56). Consenting cases and controls were interviewed and blood and throat swabs were collected. The 26 largest U. S. pork abattoirs were surveyed to identify additional cases. Fifteen cases were identified at Plant A; illness onsets occurred during May 2004 - November 2007. Median age was 32 years (range, 21-55 years). Cases were more likely than warm-room controls to have ever worked at the head-table (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 6.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-26.7), removed brains or removed muscle from the backs of heads (AOR, 10.3; 95% CI, 1.5-68.5), and worked within 0-10 feet of the brain removal operation (AOR, 9.9; 95% CI, 1.2-80.0). Associations remained when comparing head-table cases and head-table controls. Workers removed brains by using compressed air that liquefied brain and generated aerosolized droplets, exposing themselves and nearby workers. Eight additional cases were identified in the only two other abattoirs using this technique. The three abattoirs that used this technique have stopped brain removal, and no new cases have been reported after 24 months of follow up. Cases compared to controls had higher median interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) levels (21.7 pg/ml; vs 14.8 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Discussion: This novel polyradiculoneuropathy was associated with removing porcine brains with compressed air. An autoimmune mechanism is supported by higher levels of IFN gamma in cases than in controls consistent with other immune mediated illnesses occurring in association with neural tissue exposure. Abattoirs should not use compressed air to remove brains and should avoid procedures that aerosolize CNS tissue. This outbreak highlights the potential for respiratory or mucosal exposure to cause an immune-mediated illness in an occupational setting. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Environmental Monitoring Livestock Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Airborne-particles Biological-effects Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-methods Humans Medical-screening Nervous-system-disorders Nervous-system-function Neurological-reactions Occupational-exposure Occupational-health Slaughterhouses Statistical-analysis Work-areas Work-environment Work-performance Work-practices Worker-health

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• ISSN:
  1932-6203
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  5
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20036619
• Citation:
  PLoS One 2010 Mar; 5(3):e9782
• Contact Point Address:
  Stacy M. Holzbauer, Minnesota Dept Hlth, Infect Dis Epidemiol Prevent & Control Div, St Paul, MN
• Email:
  Aaron.DeVries@state.mn.us
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  PLoS One
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b8dbb76739a9c34d1a00c228b6ad03771011c6053d4dba2a27962eaec9e81e0f01aff22da9b9670bd4584237ef4aa863b4e38b0a007181611238067e3608d765
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187972/cdc_187972_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.78 MB ]