Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb
Abstract
A study to assess the levels of various threats and awareness among wildlife health professionals was carried out using a self administered questionnaire that focused on personal health details, the extent of exposure to various hazards, safety measures practiced and awareness level. Fifty four (46.9%) veterinarians responded to the questionnaire. The study suggests that animal related injuries (bites, wounds, scratches, fractures) were the major hazard (41%). Other health related problems and illness among professionals were backache (29.6%), hypertension (21.2%), lumbar spondylitis and anxiety (15.6% each), allergies/wheezing (11%), diabetes (10.5%), cervical spondylitis (9.4%), enteric disorders (8.9%), hypotension (5.9%), hypercholesterolemia (4.5%) and dermatitis (2.3%). Though 69% of the respondents handled hazardous chemicals during wildlife practice, none reported any mishap. Response to the presence of zoonotic diseases revealed a low level (3.7%) among the wildlife health professionals. The study revealed that despite near optimal awareness of various hazards, preventive measures are minimally practiced. It may be concluded that wildlife health professionals are exposed to a variety of hazardous situations during wildlife practice and need to remain diligent to ensure their own continued good health and that of the staff working under their supervision.Provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem procjene stupnja različitih opasnosti i osviještenosti o tim opasnostima u specijalista za zaštitu zdravlja divljih životinja. Pripremljen je upitnik s pitanjima usmjerenima na podatke o osobnom zdravlju, opsegu izloženosti različitim opasnostima, primijenjenim mjerama zaštite i stupnju osviještenosti o opasnostima. Na upitnik su odgovorila 54 (46,9%) veterinara. Istraživanje je pokazalo da je glavna opasnost (41%) ozljeda do koje dolazi u radu sa životinjama (ugrizi, rane, ogrebotine, lomovi). Drugi poremećaji zdravlja odnosili su se na bol u leđima (29,6%), povišeni krvni tlak (21,2%), lumbalni spondilitis i anksioznost (svaki po 15,6%), alergije i otežano disanje (11%), šećernu bolest (10,5%), cervikalni spondilitis (9,4%), probavne poremećaje (8,9%), sniženi krvni tlak (5,9%), povišeni kolesterol (4,5%) i upala kože (2,3%). Iako se 69% ispitanika služilo opasnim kemikalijama tijekom rada s divljim životinjama, nije bilo odgovora o nesretnim slučajevima vezanima uz to. Odgovori o potvrđenim zoonozama bili su rijetki (3,7%). Istraživanje je pokazalo da se usprkos gotovo optimalnoj osviještenosti o različitim opasnostima, preventivne mjere malo primijenjuju. Može se zaključiti da su stručnjaci koji nadziru zdravlje divljih životinja izloženi različitim opasnostima tijekom obavljanja prakse i zbog toga trebaju ustrajati u održavanju svojeg zdravlja te dobrog zdravlja osoblja koje radi pod njihovim nadzorom
