E-ISSN 2218-6050 | ISSN 2226-4485
 

Short Communication


Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico

Karla Dzul-rosado, Carlos Pérez-osorio, Sergio Morales-garza, Angel Casanova-cocom, Dayana Lavín-sánchez, Henry Noh-pech, Juan Arias-león, Daniela García-quiroz, Fernando Puerto-manzano, Roger I. Rodríguez-vivas.


Abstract
Background:
Veterinary clinic personnel are exposed to various occupational risks, including the transmission of zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp., which can cause serious diseases in humans. In Mexico, although exposure to vector-borne agents has been documented among veterinary clinic personnel, there are no previous studies focused on this population in Yucatán, Mexico.

Aim:
To estimate the prevalence of rickettsial pathogens in veterinary clinic personnel in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in six veterinary clinics using non-probability convenience sampling. Thirty-nine workers over 18 years old who provided informed consent were included. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture and analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect antibodies against R. rickettsii, R. typhi, and E. chaffeensis. Prevalence estimates are presented as percentages with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (IC95%), calculated using the Wilson method for binomial proportions.

Results:
The prevalence of antibody single-antigen seroreactivity to R. rickettsii, R. typhi, and E. chaffeensis was 41.0% (16/39), 17.9% (7/39), and 0%, respectively. However, multi-antigen seroreactivity to R. rickettsia, and R. typhi was 12.8% (5/39); meanwhile, multi-antigen seroreactivity to R. rickettsii, R. typhi, and E. chaffeensis was 5.1% (2/39).

Conclusion:
This first exploratory study in Yucatán and southeastern Mexico indicates occupational exposure to Rickettsia spp. among veterinary clinic personnel and highlights the need for integrated prevention and surveillance strategies under a One Health approach.

Key words: Occupational exposure; Personnel in veterinary clinics; Zoonosis.


 
ARTICLE TOOLS
Abstract
PDF Fulltext
How to cite this articleHow to cite this article
Citation Tools
Related Records
 Articles by Karla Dzul-Rosado
Articles by Carlos Pérez-Osorio
Articles by Sergio Morales-Garza
Articles by Angel Casanova-Cocom
Articles by Dayana Lavín-Sánchez
Articles by Henry Noh-Pech
Articles by Juan Arias-León
Articles by Daniela García-Quiroz
Articles by Fernando Puerto-Manzano
Articles by Roger I. Rodríguez-Vivas
on Google
on Google Scholar


How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Dzul-rosado K, Pérez-osorio C, Morales-garza S, Casanova-cocom A, Lavín-sánchez D, Noh-pech H, Arias-león J, García-quiroz D, Puerto-manzano F, Rodríguez-vivas RI. Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(6): 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25


Web Style

Dzul-rosado K, Pérez-osorio C, Morales-garza S, Casanova-cocom A, Lavín-sánchez D, Noh-pech H, Arias-león J, García-quiroz D, Puerto-manzano F, Rodríguez-vivas RI. Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=308890 [Access: June 08, 2026]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Dzul-rosado K, Pérez-osorio C, Morales-garza S, Casanova-cocom A, Lavín-sánchez D, Noh-pech H, Arias-león J, García-quiroz D, Puerto-manzano F, Rodríguez-vivas RI. Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(6): 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Dzul-rosado K, Pérez-osorio C, Morales-garza S, Casanova-cocom A, Lavín-sánchez D, Noh-pech H, Arias-león J, García-quiroz D, Puerto-manzano F, Rodríguez-vivas RI. Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. Open Vet. J.. (2026), [cited June 08, 2026]; 16(6): 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25



Harvard Style

Dzul-rosado, K., Pérez-osorio, . C., Morales-garza, . S., Casanova-cocom, . A., Lavín-sánchez, . D., Noh-pech, . H., Arias-león, . J., García-quiroz, . D., Puerto-manzano, . F. & Rodríguez-vivas, . R. I. (2026) Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. Open Vet. J., 16 (6), 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25



Turabian Style

Dzul-rosado, Karla, Carlos Pérez-osorio, Sergio Morales-garza, Angel Casanova-cocom, Dayana Lavín-sánchez, Henry Noh-pech, Juan Arias-león, Daniela García-quiroz, Fernando Puerto-manzano, and Roger I. Rodríguez-vivas. 2026. Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (6), 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25



Chicago Style

Dzul-rosado, Karla, Carlos Pérez-osorio, Sergio Morales-garza, Angel Casanova-cocom, Dayana Lavín-sánchez, Henry Noh-pech, Juan Arias-león, Daniela García-quiroz, Fernando Puerto-manzano, and Roger I. Rodríguez-vivas. "Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico." Open Veterinary Journal 16 (2026), 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Dzul-rosado, Karla, Carlos Pérez-osorio, Sergio Morales-garza, Angel Casanova-cocom, Dayana Lavín-sánchez, Henry Noh-pech, Juan Arias-león, Daniela García-quiroz, Fernando Puerto-manzano, and Roger I. Rodríguez-vivas. "Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico." Open Veterinary Journal 16.6 (2026), 3561-3568. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Dzul-rosado, K., Pérez-osorio, . C., Morales-garza, . S., Casanova-cocom, . A., Lavín-sánchez, . D., Noh-pech, . H., Arias-león, . J., García-quiroz, . D., Puerto-manzano, . F. & Rodríguez-vivas, . R. I. (2026) Occupational exposure to tick-borne pathogens in veterinary clinic workers from Yucatán, Mexico. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (6), 3561-3568. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i6.25