title: Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infections among North Dakota sheep producers.
abstract: A case of Q fever in a sheep producer was detected by a surveillance system in North Dakota in 1993, when Q fever was not reportable. This is the first officially documented case in the state. To estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection and identify associated risk factors, we conducted a study covering the whole state. A total of 17 cases were identified among 496 sheep producers, their family members, and hired helpers. The number of sheep raised was a good predictor of C. burnetii infection. Lambing outdoors and frequent physical contacts with sheep during lambing were associated with a higher risk, but petting dogs was correlated with a lower risk. We conclude that C. burnetii infection is prevalent among sheep producers in North Dakota. As the result, Q fever became a reportable disease in North Dakota.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Waag
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shireley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Freund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009658:North Dakota / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012756:Sheep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires