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Toxins Feb 2023As a tribute to Louis Pasteur on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth, this article summarizes the main contributions of scientists from Pasteur Institutes... (Review)
Review
As a tribute to Louis Pasteur on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth, this article summarizes the main contributions of scientists from Pasteur Institutes to the current knowledge of toxins produced by . The article therefore focuses on publications authored by researchers from Pasteur Institutes and is not intended as a systematic review of toxins. Besides identifying as the causative agent of whooping cough, Pasteurians have made several major contributions with respect to the structure-function relationship of the lipo-oligosaccharide, adenylyl cyclase toxin and pertussis toxin. In addition to contributing to the understanding of these toxins' mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels and their role in pathogenesis, scientists at Pasteur Institutes have also exploited potential applications of the gathered knowledge of these toxins. These applications range from the development of novel tools to study protein-protein interactions over the design of novel antigen delivery tools, such as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine candidates against cancer and viral infection, to the development of a live attenuated nasal pertussis vaccine. This scientific journey from basic science to applications in the field of human health matches perfectly with the overall scientific objectives outlined by Louis Pasteur himself.
Topics: Humans; Bordetella pertussis; Whooping Cough; Pertussis Toxin; Virulence Factors, Bordetella; Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; Pertussis Vaccine
PubMed: 36977067
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030176 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Feb 2018The consequences of influenza in children and adults are mainly absenteeism from school and work. However, the risk of complications is greatest in children and people... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The consequences of influenza in children and adults are mainly absenteeism from school and work. However, the risk of complications is greatest in children and people over 65 years of age. This is an update of a review published in 2011. Future updates of this review will be made only when new trials or vaccines become available. Observational data included in previous versions of the review have been retained for historical reasons but have not been updated because of their lack of influence on the review conclusions.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects (efficacy, effectiveness, and harm) of vaccines against influenza in healthy children.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library 2016, Issue 12), which includes the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group Specialised Register, MEDLINE (1966 to 31 December 2016), Embase (1974 to 31 December 2016), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP; 1 July 2017), and ClinicalTrials.gov (1 July 2017).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials comparing influenza vaccines with placebo or no intervention in naturally occurring influenza in healthy children under 16 years. Previous versions of this review included 19 cohort and 11 case-control studies. We are no longer updating the searches for these study designs but have retained the observational studies for historical purposes.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Review authors independently assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We used GRADE to rate the certainty of evidence for the key outcomes of influenza, influenza-like illness (ILI), complications (hospitalisation, ear infection), and adverse events. Due to variation in control group risks for influenza and ILI, absolute effects are reported as the median control group risk, and numbers needed to vaccinate (NNVs) are reported accordingly. For other outcomes aggregate control group risks are used.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 41 clinical trials (> 200,000 children). Most of the studies were conducted in children over the age of two and compared live attenuated or inactivated vaccines with placebo or no vaccine. Studies were conducted over single influenza seasons in the USA, Western Europe, Russia, and Bangladesh between 1984 and 2013. Restricting analyses to studies at low risk of bias showed that influenza and otitis media were the only outcomes where the impact of bias was negligible. Variability in study design and reporting impeded meta-analysis of harms outcomes.Live attenuated vaccinesCompared with placebo or do nothing, live attenuated influenza vaccines probably reduce the risk of influenza infection in children aged 3 to 16 years from 18% to 4% (risk ratio (RR) 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11 to 0.41; 7718 children; moderate-certainty evidence), and they may reduce ILI by a smaller degree, from 17% to 12% (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.80; 124,606 children; low-certainty evidence). Seven children would need to be vaccinated to prevent one case of influenza, and 20 children would need to be vaccinated to prevent one child experiencing an ILI. Acute otitis media is probably similar following vaccine or placebo during seasonal influenza, but this result comes from a single study with particularly high rates of acute otitis media (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.01; moderate-certainty evidence). There was insufficient information available to determine the effect of vaccines on school absenteeism due to very low-certainty evidence from one study. Vaccinating children may lead to fewer parents taking time off work, although the CI includes no effect (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.03; low-certainty evidence). Data on the most serious consequences of influenza complications leading to hospitalisation were not available. Data from four studies measuring fever following vaccination varied considerably, from 0.16% to 15% in children who had live vaccines, while in the placebo groups the proportions ranged from 0.71% to 22% (very low-certainty evidence). Data on nausea were not reported.Inactivated vaccinesCompared with placebo or no vaccination, inactivated vaccines reduce the risk of influenza in children aged 2 to 16 years from 30% to 11% (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.48; 1628 children; high-certainty evidence), and they probably reduce ILI from 28% to 20% (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.79; 19,044 children; moderate-certainty evidence). Five children would need to be vaccinated to prevent one case of influenza, and 12 children would need to be vaccinated to avoid one case of ILI. The risk of otitis media is probably similar between vaccinated children and unvaccinated children (31% versus 27%), although the CI does not exclude a meaningful increase in otitis media following vaccination (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.40; 884 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There was insufficient information available to determine the effect of vaccines on school absenteeism due to very low-certainty evidence from one study. We identified no data on parental working time lost, hospitalisation, fever, or nausea.We found limited evidence on secondary cases, requirement for treatment of lower respiratory tract disease, and drug prescriptions. One brand of monovalent pandemic vaccine was associated with a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by the experience of an intense emotion (cataplexy) and a sleep disorder (narcolepsy) in children. Evidence of serious harms (such as febrile fits) was sparse.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
In children aged between 3 and 16 years, live influenza vaccines probably reduce influenza (moderate-certainty evidence) and may reduce ILI (low-certainty evidence) over a single influenza season. In this population inactivated vaccines also reduce influenza (high-certainty evidence) and may reduce ILI (low-certainty evidence). For both vaccine types, the absolute reduction in influenza and ILI varied considerably across the study populations, making it difficult to predict how these findings translate to different settings. We found very few randomised controlled trials in children under two years of age. Adverse event data were not well described in the available studies. Standardised approaches to the definition, ascertainment, and reporting of adverse events are needed. Identification of all global cases of potential harms is beyond the scope of this review.
Topics: Adolescent; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Conflict of Interest; Humans; Infant; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Numbers Needed To Treat; Otitis Media; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Support as Topic; Vaccines, Attenuated; Vaccines, Inactivated
PubMed: 29388195
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004879.pub5 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2016Herpes zoster, also known as 'shingles', is a neurocutaneous disease characterised by the reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Herpes zoster, also known as 'shingles', is a neurocutaneous disease characterised by the reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes chickenpox when immunity to VZV declines. It is an extremely painful condition that can last many weeks or months and it can significantly compromise the quality of life of affected individuals. The natural process of aging is associated with a reduction in cellular immunity and this predisposes older people to herpes zoster. Vaccination with an attenuated form of VZV activates specific T cell production avoiding viral reactivation. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a herpes zoster vaccine with an attenuated active virus for clinical use among older adults, which has been tested in large populations. A new adjuvanted recombinant VZV subunit zoster vaccine has also been tested. It consists of recombinant VZV glycoprotein E and a liposome-based AS01B adjuvant system. This new vaccine is not yet available for clinical use.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vaccination for preventing herpes zoster in older adults.
SEARCH METHODS
For this 2015 update, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2015, Issue 9), MEDLINE (1948 to the 3rd week of October 2015), EMBASE (2010 to October 2015), CINAHL (1981 to October 2015) and LILACS (1982 to October 2015).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs comparing zoster vaccine with placebo or no vaccine, to prevent herpes zoster in older adults (mean age > 60 years).
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently collected and analysed data using a data extraction form. They also performed 'Risk of bias' assessment.
MAIN RESULTS
We identified 13 studies involving 69,916 participants. The largest study included 38,546 participants. All studies were conducted in high-income countries and included only healthy Caucasian individuals ≥ 60 years of age without immunosuppressive comorbidities. Ten studies used live attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccines. Three studies tested a new type of vaccine not yet available for clinical use. We judged five of the included studies to be at low risk of bias.The incidence of herpes zoster, at up to three years of follow-up, was lower in participants who received the vaccine than in those who received a placebo: risk ratio (RR) 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43 to 0.56, risk difference (RD) 2%, number needed to treat to benefit (NNTB) 50; GRADE: moderate quality evidence. The vaccinated group had a higher incidence of mild to moderate intensity adverse events. These date came from one large study that included 38,546 people aged 60 years or older.A study including 8122 participants compared the new vaccine (not yet available) to the placebo; the group that received the new vaccine had a lower incidence of herpes zoster at 3.2 years of follow-up: RR 0.04, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.10, RD 3%, NNTB 33; GRADE: moderate quality evidence. The vaccinated group had a higher incidence of adverse events but most them were of mild to moderate intensity.All studies received funding from the pharmaceutical industry.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Herpes zoster vaccine is effective in preventing herpes zoster disease and this protection can last three years. In general, zoster vaccine is well tolerated; it produces few systemic adverse events and injection site adverse events of mild to moderate intensity.There are studies of a new vaccine (with a VZV glycoproteic fraction plus adjuvant), which is currently not yet available for clinical use.
Topics: Aged; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Humans; Middle Aged; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vaccines, Attenuated
PubMed: 26937872
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008858.pub3 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Current vaccination strategies against pertussis are sub-optimal. Optimal protection against , the causative agent of pertussis, likely requires mucosal immunity....
BACKGROUND
Current vaccination strategies against pertussis are sub-optimal. Optimal protection against , the causative agent of pertussis, likely requires mucosal immunity. Current pertussis vaccines consist of inactivated whole cells or purified antigens thereof, combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Although they are highly protective against severe pertussis disease, they fail to elicit mucosal immunity. Compared to natural infection, immune responses following immunization are short-lived and fail to prevent bacterial colonization of the upper respiratory tract. To overcome these shortcomings, efforts have been made for decades, and continue to be made, toward the development of mucosal vaccines against pertussis.
OBJECTIVES
In this review we systematically analyzed published literature on protection conferred by mucosal immunization against pertussis. Immune responses mounted by these vaccines are summarized.
METHOD
The PubMed Library database was searched for published studies on mucosal pertussis vaccines. Eligibility criteria included mucosal administration and the evaluation of at least one outcome related to efficacy, immunogenicity and safety.
RESULTS
While over 349 publications were identified by the search, only 63 studies met the eligibility criteria. All eligible studies are included here. Initial attempts of mucosal whole-cell vaccine administration in humans provided promising results, but were not followed up. More recently, diverse vaccination strategies have been tested, including non-replicating and replicating vaccine candidates given by three different mucosal routes: orally, nasally or rectally. Several adjuvants and particulate formulations were tested to enhance the efficacy of non-replicating vaccines administered mucosally. Most novel vaccine candidates were only tested in animal models, mainly mice. Only one novel mucosal vaccine candidate was tested in baboons and in human trials.
CONCLUSION
Three vaccination strategies drew our attention, as they provided protective and durable immunity in the respiratory tract, including the upper respiratory tract: acellular vaccines adjuvanted with lipopeptide LP1569 and c-di-GMP, outer membrane vesicles and the live attenuated BPZE1 vaccine. Among all experimental vaccines, BPZE1 is the only one that has advanced into clinical development.
Topics: Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Pertussis Vaccine; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 34211481
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.701285 -
Pediatrics Sep 2019Live vaccines usually provide robust immunity but can transmit the vaccine virus.
CONTEXT
Live vaccines usually provide robust immunity but can transmit the vaccine virus.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the characteristics of secondary transmission of the vaccine-strain varicella-zoster virus (Oka strain; vOka) on the basis of the published experience with use of live varicella and zoster vaccines.
DATA SOURCES
Systematic review of Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases for articles published through 2018.
STUDY SELECTION
Articles that reported original data on vOka transmission from persons who received vaccines containing the live attenuated varicella-zoster virus.
DATA EXTRACTION
We abstracted data to describe vOka transmission by index patient's immune status, type (varicella or herpes zoster) and severity of illness, and whether transmission was laboratory confirmed.
RESULTS
Twenty articles were included. We identified 13 patients with vOka varicella after transmission from 11 immunocompetent varicella vaccine recipients. In all instances, the vaccine recipient had a rash: 6 varicella-like and 5 herpes zoster. Transmission occurred mostly to household contacts. One additional case was not considered direct transmission from a vaccine recipient, but the mechanism was uncertain. Transmission from vaccinated immunocompromised children also occurred only if the vaccine recipient developed a rash postvaccination. Secondary cases of varicella caused by vOka were mild.
LIMITATIONS
It is likely that other vOka transmission cases remain unpublished.
CONCLUSIONS
Healthy, vaccinated persons have minimal risk for transmitting vOka to contacts and only if a rash is present. Our findings support the existing recommendations for routine varicella vaccination and the guidance that persons with vaccine-related rash avoid contact with susceptible persons at high risk for severe varicella complications.
Topics: Chickenpox Vaccine; Exanthema; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Humans; Immunocompetence; Immunocompromised Host; Risk Factors; Seroconversion; Severity of Illness Index; Vaccines, Attenuated; Varicella Zoster Virus Infection
PubMed: 31471448
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-1305 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Jan 2022The treatment for COVID-19 often utilizes immune-modulating drugs. These drugs are also used in immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). We performed a systematic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
The treatment for COVID-19 often utilizes immune-modulating drugs. These drugs are also used in immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). We performed a systematic review about seroconversion after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with IMIDs and impact of various drugs on seroconversion rates.
METHODS
Electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies reporting seroconversion rates following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in IMIDs. We calculated the pooled seroconversion rates after a single or two doses of vaccination, pooled seroconversion rates in patients with specific IMIDs, and rates in patients on various drugs/drug classes.
RESULTS
Twenty-five studies were included in the systematic review. The pooled seroconversion rates after two doses of mRNA vaccination were higher (83.1, 95%CI: 74.9-89.0, I = 90%) as compared to a single dose (69.3, 52.4-82.3, I = 95%). The odds of seroconversion were lower in IMIDs as compared to healthy controls (0.05, 0.02-0.13, I = 21%). The seroconversion rates in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (95.2, 95%CI: 92.6-96.9, I = 0%), spondyloarthropathy (95.6, 95% CI: 83.4-98.9, I = 35%), and systemic lupus erythematosus (90.7, 95%CI: 85.4-94.2, I = 0%) were higher as compared to rheumatoid arthritis (79.5, 95% CI: 65.1-88.9, I = 85%), and vasculitis (70.5, 95% CI: 52.9-83.5, I = 51%). The seroconversion rates following double dose of mRNA were excellent (>90%) in those on anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF), anti-integrin (vedolizumab), anti-IL 17 (secukinumab), anti-IL6 (Tocilizumab) and anti-IL12/23 (Ustekinumab) therapies but attenuated (<70%) in patients on anti-CD20 (Rituximab) or anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen (CTLA-4) therapies (Abatacept). The seroconversion rates were good (70-90%) with steroids, hydroxychloroquine, JAK inhibitors, mycophenolate mofetil and leflunomide. Combination of anti-TNF with immunomodulators (azathioprine, 6-meracptopurine, methotrexate) resulted in an attenuated vaccine response as compared to anti-TNF monotherapy.
CONCLUSION
Seroconversion rates after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are lower in patients with IMIDs. Certain therapies (anti-TNF, anti-integrin, anti-IL 17, anti-IL6, anti-12/23) do not impact seroconversion rates while others (anti-CD20, anti-CTLA-4) result in poorer responses.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; Vaccination
PubMed: 34474172
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102927 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2017This systematic review and meta-analysis describes and consolidates findings from all studies that assessed the effectiveness of live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)...
BACKGROUND
This systematic review and meta-analysis describes and consolidates findings from all studies that assessed the effectiveness of live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) against laboratory-confirmed influenza since the 2009 pandemic in children and young adults.
METHODS
A MEDLINE search was conducted for articles published from January 1, 2010 to November 30, 2016. All original publications reporting an effectiveness estimate of LAIV against cases of influenza confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction or culture were retained for analysis. Effectiveness estimates were categorized by LAIV formulation (monovalent, trivalent, and quadrivalent) and strain (any influenza strain, A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B strains). Consolidated estimates were obtained with a random-effects model.
RESULTS
A total of 24 publications presenting 29 observational studies were retained for meta-analysis. Live-attenuated influenza vaccine was not shown to be effective against A(H1N1)pdm09 strains as a monovalent formulation in 2009-2010 or as a trivalent formulation from 2010-2011 to 2013-2014, but consolidated sample sizes were small. It was effective as a quadrivalent formulation but less effective than inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV). Live-attenuated influenza vaccine was consistently effective against B strains and matched A(H3N2) strains but was not shown to provide significant protection against mismatched A(H3N2) strains in 2014-2015.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirm that effectiveness of LAIV against A(H1N1)pdm09 strains has been lower than IIV. A systematic investigation has been initiated to determine the root cause of the difference in effectiveness between pre- and postpandemic A(H1N1) vaccine strains and to identify a more consistently effective A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine strain.
PubMed: 28852675
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofx111 -
Viruses Aug 2022Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at greater risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have attenuated response to vaccinations. In the present... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at greater risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have attenuated response to vaccinations. In the present meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the serologic response to the COVID-19 vaccine in SOT recipients. A search of electronic databases was conducted to identify SOT studies that reported the serologic response to COVID-19 vaccination. We analyzed 44 observational studies including 6158 SOT recipients. Most studies were on mRNA vaccination (mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2). After a single and two doses of vaccine, serologic response rates were 8.6% (95% CI 6.8-11.0) and 34.2% (95% CI 30.1-38.7), respectively. Compared to controls, response rates were lower after a single and two doses of vaccine (OR 0.0049 [95% CI 0.0021-0.012] and 0.0057 [95% CI 0.0030-0.011], respectively). A third dose improved the rate to 65.6% (95% CI 60.4-70.2), but in a subset of patients who had not achieved a response after two doses, it remained low at 35.7% (95% CI 21.2-53.3). In summary, only a small proportion of SOT recipients achieved serologic response to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, and that even the third dose had an insufficient response. Alternative strategies for prophylaxis in SOT patients need to be developed. In this meta-analysis that included 6158 solid organ transplant recipients, the serologic response to the COVID-19 vaccine was extremely low after one (8.6%) and two doses (34.2%). The third dose of the vaccine improved the rate only to 66%, and in the subset of patients who had not achieved a response after two doses, it remained low at 36%. The results of our study suggest that a significant proportion of solid organ transplant recipients are unable to achieve a sufficient serologic response after completing not only the two series of vaccination but also the third booster dose. There is an urgent need to develop strategies for prophylaxis including modified vaccine schedules or the use of monoclonal antibodies in this vulnerable patient population.
Topics: Antibodies, Viral; BNT162 Vaccine; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Organ Transplantation; Vaccination; Vaccines; Vaccines, Synthetic; mRNA Vaccines
PubMed: 36016444
DOI: 10.3390/v14081822 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Apr 2022Public health newborn screening (NBS) programs continuously evolve, taking advantage of international shared learning. NBS for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)...
BACKGROUND
Public health newborn screening (NBS) programs continuously evolve, taking advantage of international shared learning. NBS for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has recently been introduced in many countries. However, comparison of screening outcomes has been hampered by use of disparate terminology and imprecise or variable case definitions for non-SCID conditions with T-cell lymphopenia.
OBJECTIVES
This study sought to determine whether standardized screening terminology could overcome a Babylonian confusion and whether improved case definitions would promote international exchange of knowledge.
METHODS
A systematic literature review highlighted the diverse terminology in SCID NBS programs internationally. While, as expected, individual screening strategies and tests were tailored to each program, we found uniform terminology to be lacking in definitions of disease targets, sensitivity, and specificity required for comparisons across programs.
RESULTS
The study's recommendations reflect current evidence from literature and existing guidelines coupled with opinion of experts in public health screening and immunology. Terminologies were aligned. The distinction between actionable and nonactionable T-cell lymphopenia among non-SCID cases was clarified, the former being infants with T-cell lymphopenia who could benefit from interventions such as protection from infections, antibiotic prophylaxis, and live-attenuated vaccine avoidance.
CONCLUSIONS
By bringing together the previously unconnected public health screening community and clinical immunology community, these SCID NBS deliberations bridged the gaps in language and perspective between these disciplines. This study proposes that international specialists in each disorder for which NBS is performed join forces to hone their definitions and recommend uniform registration of outcomes of NBS. Standardization of terminology will promote international exchange of knowledge and optimize each phase of NBS and follow-up care, advancing health outcomes for children worldwide.
Topics: Child; Data Collection; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lymphopenia; Neonatal Screening; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency
PubMed: 34537207
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.08.026 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases May 2020Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of remarkable importance worldwide. The focus of this systematic review was to investigate occupational brucellosis and to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of remarkable importance worldwide. The focus of this systematic review was to investigate occupational brucellosis and to identify the main infection risks for each group exposed to the pathogen. Seven databases were used to identify papers related to occupational brucellosis: CABI, Cochrane, Pubmed, Scielo, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. The search resulted in 6123 studies, of which 63 were selected using the quality assessment tools guided from National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Case Report Guidelines (CARE). Five different job-related groups were considered greatly exposed to the disease: rural workers, abattoir workers, veterinarians and veterinary assistants, laboratory workers and hunters. The main risk factors and exposure sources involved in the occupational infection observed from the analysis of the articles were direct contact with animal fluids, failure to comply with the use of personal protective equipment, accidental exposure to live attenuated anti-brucellosis vaccines and non-compliance with biosafety standards. Brucella species frequently isolated from job-related infection were Brucella melitensis, Brucella abortus, Brucella suis and Brucella canis. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed using the case-control studies and demonstrated that animal breeders, laboratory workers and abattoir workers have 3.47 [95% confidence interval (CI); 1.47-8.19] times more chance to become infected with Brucella spp. than others individuals that have no contact with the possible sources of infection. This systematic review improved the understanding of the epidemiology of brucellosis as an occupational disease. Rural workers, abattoir workers, veterinarians, laboratory workers and hunters were the groups more exposed to occupational Brucella spp. infection. Moreover, it was observed that the lack of knowledge about brucellosis among frequently exposed professionals, in addition to some behaviors, such as negligence in the use of individual and collective protective measures, increases the probability of infection.
Topics: Abattoirs; Animals; Brucella; Brucellosis; Humans; Laboratory Personnel; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Veterinarians
PubMed: 32392223
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008164