Warts among workers in poultry slaughterhouses.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify the prevalence of warts in poultry slaughterhouses. A questionnaire was administered to 1,194 workers, of whom 569 completed it. The prevalence of warts (Papilloma virus) was found to be 28.5% in slaughterhouses. In the general population it is 7-10%, reaching a peak in individuals around the age of 14 a. In the poultry slaughterhouses, the prevalence was highest (38.7%) in the age category 25-29 a, and among those who had been working 4 to 6 a (40.8%). The factors present in the work environment showed a significant correlation (alpha less than 0.05) with the presence of warts were the following: steel-mesh gloves that were too large for the wearer, work with a saw, handling of cold objects, and high humidity levels. It was concluded that mild abrasion of the skin (too-large gloves) and high humidity facilitate cutaneous infection by the virus, whereas the handling of cold objects and work with a saw provoke local vasoconstriction which could hinder the immune reaction.