Zoonotic infections infections in livestock and the risk to public health - Abstract

Exposure of visitors to zoonoses at an open farm

A Beswick

The Microbiology Section at the Health and Safety Laboratory performed a range of microbiological analyses on samples obtained from an open farm in South Wales. The job request followed a HSE inspection of the farm. A number of gastro-intestinal problems had been reported by visitors to the premises either during or following one week residential courses. This problem had occurred on several occasions, and diarrhoea infections caused by Cryptosporidium parvum had been confirmed for a number of those affected. Cryptosporidium parvum, Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC) and Campylobacter species were all targeted during the analyses.

Because of the pathogenic nature of the target microorganisms, the main aim was to indicate whether these organisms were present around the farm structures and/or in animal faeces. Hand-washing facilities were a particular target because of their known importance in breaking any zoonotic route of infection.

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