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. 2016 Mar 2;94(3):525–531. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0726

Table 2.

Association of exposures with case status, Community A, Missouri, June 1–December 17, 2013

Risk factor Exposed Unexposed Relative risk (95% CI)
Cases no. Total no. % Cases no. Total no. %
Job description*
 Cow dairy 12 25 48 35 76 46 1.0 (0.6, 1.7)
 Goat dairy 6 7 86 41 94 44 2.0 (1.3, 2.9)
 Construction 3 9 33 44 92 48 0.7 (0.3, 1.8)
 Environmental 8 10 80 39 91 43 1.9 (1.3, 2.8)
 Food services 6 8 75 41 93 44 1.7 (1.1, 2.7)
 Education/management/administration 6 19 32 41 82 50 0.6 (0.3, 1.3)
 Student 3 11 27 44 90 49 0.6 (0.2, 1.5)
Goat interactions
 Goat contact or close proximity 28 44 64 19 57 33 1.9 (1.2, 2.9)
 Milking 4 4 100 43 97 44 2.3 (1.8, 2.8)
 Feeding/watering 5 5 100 42 96 44 2.3 (1.8, 2.9)
 Cleaning holding areas 6 6 100 41 95 43 2.3 (1.8, 2.9)
 Removing/handling manure 10 11 91 37 90 41 2.2 (1.6, 3.0)
 Replacing bedding 4 4 100 43 97 44 2.3 (1.8, 2.8)
 Veterinary care 4 4 100 43 97 44 2.3 (1.8, 2.8)
 Help with or observe a birth 4 4 100 43 97 44 2.3 (1.8, 2.8)
 Direct contact with newborn kid 4 5 80 43 96 45 1.8 (1.1, 2.9)
 Direct contact with dead goat 5 5 100 42 96 44 2.3 (1.8, 2.9)
 Direct contact with birth products 6 6 100 41 95 43 2.3 (1.8, 2.9)
Cow interactions
 Cow contact or close proximity 28 50 56 19 51 37 1.5 (1.0, 2.3)
 Milking 10 21 48 33 73 45 1.1 (0.6, 1.8)
 Feeding/watering 9 14 64 38 86 44 1.5 (0.9, 2.3)
 Cleaning holding areas 15 24 63 32 76 42 1.5 (1.0, 2.2)
 Removing/handling manure 20 32 63 27 68 40 1.6 (1.1, 2.3)
 Replacing bedding 11 15 73 36 85 42 1.7 (1.2, 2.6)
 Veterinary care 10 11 91 37 89 42 2.2 (1.6, 3.0)
 Help with or observe a birth 9 9 100 38 90 42 2.4 (1.9, 3.0)
 Direct contact with newborn calf 11 16 69 36 84 43 1.6 (1.1, 2.4)
 Direct contact with dead cow 12 15 80 35 85 41 1.9 (1.4, 2.8)
 Direct contact with birth products 13 15 87 34 85 40 2.2 (1.6, 3.0)
Other goat and cow exposures
 Known exposure to:
  Animal that had an abortion or stillbirth§ 13 17 76 34 84 40 1.9 (1.3, 2.7)
  Animal that had newborn death§ 15 19 79 32 82 39 2.0 (1.4, 2.9)
  Animal that had weak newborn§ 15 20 75 32 81 40 1.9 (1.3, 2.7)
 Dispose of animal carcasses 14 21 67 33 79 42 1.6 (1.1, 2.4)
 Clean animal holding areas 18 28 64 29 73 40 1.6 (1.1, 2.4)
 Clean animal holding areas after birthing 7 9 78 40 92 43 1.8 (1.2, 2.7)
 Contact or work with ruminant excreta 25 38 66 22 63 35 1.9 (1.3, 2.8)
 Contact or close proximity with ruminants 40 69 58 7 32 22 2.7 (1.3, 5.3)
Household exposures
 Household member with cow or goat contact (among those with no personal exposure) 5 6 45 2 19 10 4.8 (1.1, 20.7)
 Work boots brought into home 12 13 92 19 41 46 2.0 (1.4, 2.9)
 Work clothing laundered at home 17 25 68 20 36 56 1.2 (0.8, 1.8)
Miscellaneous exposures
 Consume raw dairy products 9 14 64 38 87 44 1.5 (0.9, 2.3)
 Consume pasteurized goat cheese 23 42 55 24 56 43 1.3 (0.8, 1.9)

CI = confidence interval.

*

More than one job may have been reported in the past 6 months; only jobs reported by ≥ 5 persons were analyzed.

Includes work with animal waste, compost management, land application of compost, and spray irrigation from manure lagoons.

Ordinal independent variables describing frequency were dichotomized to ‘never or hardly ever' and ‘daily, several times per week or several times per month'.

§

Answers of “don't know” or “not applicable” classified as “no” for analysis.

Contact includes work with ruminant excreta.