Pig-2-Bac as a biomarker of occupational exposure to pigs and livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus among industrial hog operation workers

Environ Res. 2015 Nov;143(Pt A):93-7. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.09.026. Epub 2015 Oct 19.

Abstract

Over 50 million hogs are raised annually in the United States for consumption, mostly on industrial hog operations (IHOs). Workers at IHOs are exposed to airborne particulates, zoonotic pathogens, and other workplace hazards, but lack of access to IHOs can hinder exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies. Here, we demonstrate the utility of pig-specific Bacteroidales (Pig-2-Bac) as a biomarker of exposure to pigs and pig waste and to help identify sources of Staphylococcus aureus carriage among IHO workers.

Keywords: Industrial hog operation; Livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus; Occupational exposure; Pig-specific fecal Bacteroidales; Quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Microbiology*
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Bacteroidetes / genetics
  • Bacteroidetes / isolation & purification
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Livestock / microbiology*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Nasal Mucosa / microbiology
  • North Carolina
  • Occupational Exposure / analysis*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / transmission
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Swine / microbiology*
  • Zoonoses / microbiology
  • Zoonoses / transmission

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • DNA, Bacterial