Occupational and non-occupational aspects of leptospirosis among workers in a public slaughterhouse in the semi-arid region, Paraiba state, Brazil

This cross-sectional analytical study investigated occupational and non-occupational determinants of leptospirosis among 42 workers at a municipal public slaughterhouse located in the semi-arid region of Paraíba State, Brazil. The facility, classified as mixed-type, processes bovine, swine, ovine, and caprine species under municipal sanitary inspection. Epidemiological data included age, education level, household income, residential infrastructure, job function, length of service, and PPE use/hygiene, along with blood and urine samples for diagnostic testing by MAT and PCR. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test assessed associations. Participants were predominantly male (aged 40–49), with low income and education, residing near the facility. Of the total, 88% (n = 37) performed activities involving direct animal contact, such as stunning, bleeding, skinning, and evisceration, while 12% (n = 5) held administrative positions. MAT revealed seroreactivity in 8 workers (19%), with reactions to the Australis, Cynopteri, Pomona, Panama, and Pyrogenes serogroups; all PCR results were negative. The slaughterers (especially those involved in stunning, bleeding, skinning, and evisceration) were the only group among the evaluated workers to present anti-Leptospira agglutinations, indicating they faced the highest risk of contamination. Occupational factors (job type/turnover, tenure, PPE use/hygiene, infrastructure, rodents/stray dogs, slaughtered species, smoking) and non-occupational factors (housing sanitation, animal husbandry, water quality, wild meat consumption, disease knowledge) could be associated with increased infection risk. These findings highlight leptospirosis as a major occupational zoonosis in the meat industry, requiring an integrated sanitary and public health approach. Key measures include improved sanitation, proper PPE use, safe handling, environmental monitoring, effluent treatment, enhanced animal inspection, and educational initiatives.