title: Q fever: prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in the Basque country.
abstract: The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in the Basque population. To this end a stratified sampling was carried out taking as a criterion the size of the population in a given area of residence. Residents in sparsely populated areas were found to have a prevalence of 38.5%, significantly greater than in highly populated areas (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.27 and OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.09-2.30). The prevalence was significantly higher in males (36.3%) than in females (29%), and was found to increase significantly with age. Current or previous participation in activities relating to agriculture and/or livestock farming or even having contact with cattle, goats or sheep were also found to be risk factors for the infection. A fuller study of the determinants of chronic Q fever should be initiated.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Public Health Service of Donostia, Basque Government, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sanzo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garcia-Calabuig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Audicana
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dehesa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial