Occupational Exposure to Zoonotic Parasites Among Abattoir Workers in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria: A Professional Health Risk Assessment

Abattoir workers are among the most occupationally exposed professionals to zoonotic parasitic pathogens in Nigeria, through direct contact with infected carcases, blood, and viscera of slaughtered livestock. This study assesses occupational exposure to zoonotic parasites among abattoir workers in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional occupational health assessment was conducted at three major abattoirs in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Zaria. Two hundred and fifty workers including slaughtermen, offal handlers, and veterinary inspection personnel were enrolled. Blood, stool, and skin samples were collected and examined for Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence, intestinal helminth carriage, cutaneous larva migrans lesions, and Brucella coinfection as a comparator. Occupational risk data on use of personal protective equipment, handwashing compliance, wound history, and training in zoonotic disease awareness were gathered. Literature from 2020 to 2024 identifies Nigerian abattoir workers as a high-risk occupational group for Toxoplasma, Taenia solium cysticercosis, and cutaneous larva migrans, with limited regulatory enforcement of protective standards. This study generates a risk stratification matrix by job role and facility, providing a practical tool for occupational health management. Recommendations will be communicated to the Kaduna State Veterinary Hospital Authority and the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health. Keywords: zoonotic parasites, abattoir workers, occupational exposure, Kaduna State, health risk assessment.