title: [How widespread is Q fever in Switzerland?].
abstract: There are very few reports in the literature on mass seroepidemiological studies of the prevalence of Q fever antibodies. Those to be found are mostly concerned with focal epidemics of Q fever. Out of more than 2000 serum specimens from blood donors analyzed at random in Switzerland in 1982 for Q fever antibodies, 3.5% gave seropositive results (CBR titer at least 1:10). In selected population samples, e.g. forestry workers or vets, the prevalence was distinctly higher (7.6% and 25.7%). Contact with sheep and the consumption of unboiled and not commercially processed milk proved to be mutually independent risk factors. The foregoing findings indicate that the incidence of Q fever in Switzerland is higher than would appear from the number of cases reported to the Federal Health Department. They are discussed in view of the recent renewed interest in Q fever endocarditis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001782:Blood Donors; D003381:Coxiella / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D009790:Occupations; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D012306:Risk; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
vernacular_title: Wie verbreitet ist Q-Fieber in der Schweiz?