TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurologic symptoms associated with cattle farming in the agricultural health study
AU - Vegosen, Leora
AU - Davis, Meghan F.
AU - Silbergeld, Ellen
AU - Breysse, Patrick N.
AU - Agnew, Jacqueline
AU - Gray, Gregory
AU - Freeman, Laura Beane
AU - Kamel, Freya
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - OBJECTIVE:: Infection with Campylobacter jejuni, a bacterium carried by poultry and livestock, is the most frequently identified antecedent to the autoimmune neurologic condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome. We used Agricultural Health Study data to assess whether cattle farming was associated with prevalence of neurologic symptoms. METHODS:: Prevalence of self-reported symptoms in cattle farmers (n = 8878) was compared with farmers who did not work with animals (n = 7462), using multivariate regression. RESULTS:: Prevalence of numbness and weakness were increased for beef and dairy farmers compared with the reference group (P < 0.0001). Of cattle farmers, 48% did not report raising other animal species, and prevalence of numbness and weakness were also increased in this subgroup compared with the reference group (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS:: Occupational exposure to cattle was associated with increased prevalence of self-reported symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy.
AB - OBJECTIVE:: Infection with Campylobacter jejuni, a bacterium carried by poultry and livestock, is the most frequently identified antecedent to the autoimmune neurologic condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome. We used Agricultural Health Study data to assess whether cattle farming was associated with prevalence of neurologic symptoms. METHODS:: Prevalence of self-reported symptoms in cattle farmers (n = 8878) was compared with farmers who did not work with animals (n = 7462), using multivariate regression. RESULTS:: Prevalence of numbness and weakness were increased for beef and dairy farmers compared with the reference group (P < 0.0001). Of cattle farmers, 48% did not report raising other animal species, and prevalence of numbness and weakness were also increased in this subgroup compared with the reference group (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS:: Occupational exposure to cattle was associated with increased prevalence of self-reported symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy.
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U2 - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31825a2574
DO - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31825a2574
M3 - Article
C2 - 22975665
AN - SCOPUS:84867571468
SN - 1076-2752
VL - 54
SP - 1253
EP - 1258
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
IS - 10
ER -