Serologische Untersuchung von Tierärzten auf Zoonosen. 3. Mitteilung: Seroprävalenz gegenüber viralen Zoonosen und prophylaktische Maßnahmen

In this third report on a seroepidemiological study, carried out on 137 veterinarians from Styria, the prevalence of antibodies to viral zoonoses is presented. The following prevalences have been determined: parainfluenza virus type 3:95.6 %, respiratory syncytial virus: 59.9 %, influenza A virus H1N1: 8.8%, encephalomyocarditis virus: 5.1%, equine rhinovirus serotype 1: 4.4%; no antibodies have been identified for hantavirus, serotype Puumala, Borna disease virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus. A statistically significant correlation was found for veterinarians working as swine practitioners and the presence of antibodies to influenza A virus H1N1. In order to minimize the risk for veterinarians, animal owners, and consumers of animal products to acquire zoonotic infections preventive measures are discussed.