Serological and epidemiological analysis of the prevalence of Bartonella spp. antibodies in Swedish elite orienteers 1992-93.
The emergence of the popular, physically demanding and highly nature-interactive sport of orienteering was marked in Sweden by an elevated rate of sudden unexpected cardiac deaths in young competitors during the years 1979-92, with a common underlying cause or causes suspected. Subsequently, sera were collected during 1992-93 from the elite segment of orienteers holding a nationally ranked position, and a survey compiling various epidemiological data was performed. In this study, a total of 1136 sera were analyzed by indirect-fluorescent antibody assay for the presence of IgG antibodies against 3 Bartonella spp.: B. henselae, B. elizabethae and B. quintana. In total, 31% (355/1136) were seropositive for at least 1 species of Bartonella, with titers ranging up to 1/512; 350/1136 (31%) had antibodies against B. elizabethae, 34/1136 (3.0%) against B. henselae and 16/1136 (1.4%) against B. quintana. Males and females showed equal rates of 31% seropositisity to Bartonella spp. (males 241/766; females 114/370). In comparison, 322 time-matched sera from healthy blood donors had antibodies to Bartonella spp. in 6.8% of cases (p < 0.001). The observed high prevalence of Bartonella spp. antibodies found in Swedish elite orienteers may be indicative of a connection with risk factors for the development of myocarditis and sudden unexpected cardiac death.
McGill
S
S
Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
Wesslen
L
L
Hjelm
E
E
Holmberg
M
M
Rolf
C
C
Friman
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001473:Bartonella / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G