Q fever in Ireland. A seroprevalence study of exposure to Coxiella burnettii among Department of Agriculture workers

Occupational Medicine
A Reid, J Malone

Abstract

To estimate the risk of exposure to Coxiella burnettii among 'at risk' workers in Ireland. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study, using the complement fixation technique (CFT), was carried out among technical and support staff of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland (n = 375). Participants were divided into low- (n = 34), moderate- (n = 158) and high-risk (n = 83) groups according to the likelihood of occupational exposure. A result of <1:8 on CFT was accepted as normal, i.e. no evidence of past exposure to the causative organism, C. burnettii. Participants with titres of 1:16 were clinically assessed for evidence of past or present infection and interviewed regarding the possibility of non-occupational exposure. The participation rate was 75% (n = 281). Overall, 24 of the 281 participants (8.5%, 95% confidence interval = 5.6-12.4%) tested positive (titres = 1:8). No statistically significant difference existed between the three groups (low, 8.8%; moderate, 9.5%; high, 7.2%). Of those reviewed (n = 10), no evidence of either past or present clinically significant illness was detected. Possible non-occupational exposure was identified in two cases. Laboratory evidence of past exposure to Q fever is common amongst readily id...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 17, 2009·Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·E BosnjakH Nielsen
Jul 12, 2020·EcoHealth·Rita CruzJoão Rodrigo Mesquita
Jan 5, 2013·Central European Journal of Public Health·Erik DorkoEmil Pilipcinec

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