Veterinarians and zoonotic pathogens, infections and diseases – questionnaire study and case series, Finland.

Overview

• This research assessed the types and frequency of zoonotic infections veterinarians in Finland encounter through a questionnaire and detailed case interviews.
• The goal was to highlight occupational risks and improve health awareness among veterinarians regarding diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Background and Objective

• Veterinarians are regularly exposed to zoonotic pathogens, which are infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
• The study aimed to collect data on the prevalence and characteristics of these occupational infections in Finnish veterinarians.
• The researchers used two approaches: a broad questionnaire in 2009 and in-depth interviews with veterinarians who had reported zoonotic infections in 2019.

Methods

• Questionnaire Study (2009): Distributed to 306 veterinarians to self-report any zoonotic infections they had experienced.
• Case Series Interviews (2019): Veterinarians who had knowingly experienced occupational zoonoses were interviewed in a structured manner.
• The goal was to capture both the frequency and detailed context of these infections.

Key Findings from the Questionnaire (2009)

• 12% reported bacterial skin infections possibly acquired from animals.
• 4.2% experienced dermatophytosis (ringworm), a fungal infection common in animal contact.
• 3.9% had viral infections linked to their veterinary work.
• 3.3% contracted bacterial gastroenteritis, which involves gastrointestinal bacteria acquired through animal contact.
• 2.3% reported other types of bacterial zoonoses.
• 2.3% experienced parasitic infections or infestations caused by animal contact.

Case Series Highlights (2019)

• 16 occupational zoonosis cases reported; 7 were selected for detailed examination.
• Cases included diverse infections such as:
  • Sepsis following dog bite
  • Cryptosporidiosis from contact with calves
  • Cutaneous listeriosis after assisting in calving
  • Gastroenteritis acquired in a laboratory setting
  • Dermatophytosis following contact with a horse
  • Exposure during necropsy (post-mortem examination)
  • Potential rabies exposure from horse bite
• In four of these seven cases, veterinarians acknowledged deficits in their awareness or knowledge about the zoonotic infection risks before the incident occurred.

Implications and Recommendations

• The studies emphasize that veterinarians face a wide variety of zoonotic risks, ranging from skin infections to more serious conditions like sepsis and rabies exposure.
• There is a clear need to enhance occupational health protections for veterinarians to reduce infection risks.
• Increasing veterinarians’ knowledge and awareness about zoonotic diseases is critical for prevention.
• The research advocates adopting a One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health strategies to better manage occupational zoonoses.
• Improved training, protective protocols, and collaboration across health sectors can help mitigate these risks.