The prevalence of warts on the hands of workers in a New Zealand slaughterhouse.

Ninety-nine adult male meat workers and 55 similar textile workers were questioned about their current and past experience of hand warts, their contact with affected family members and non-workplace exposure to animals. Period prevalence rates for workers who slaughtered cattle (72%) and pigs (60%)--were significantly higher than those for other meat industry workers (27%) and textile workers (22%). Beef and pig slaughtermen employed for more than five years had a significantly higher period prevalence rate than other meat workers and textile workers. There were no differences between prevalence rates of warts in children and other family members of affected and unaffected meat workers. There was an inverse relationship between the prevalence of hand warts and non-workplace exposure to cats and dogs. Very few meat workers had time off work due to hand warts. The data support the hypothesis that the work environment of beef and pig slaughtermen enhances the prevalence of hand warts.