title: Bartonella spp. seroprevalence in healthy Swedish blood donors.
abstract: Serum samples were collected from healthy blood donors in 5 regions in Sweden in 1999, i.e. from the local Blood Centres (collecting facilities) in Boden, Jönköping, Lund, Skövde, and Uppsala. In total, 498 serum samples (63% males, 37% females) were received and tested by immunofluorescence assay for antibodies against B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. henselae (Houston-1), B. henselae (Marseille), B. quintana, and B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii. An overall Bartonella spp. seroprevalence of 16.1% was found, with a predominance of immunoreactivity to B. elizabethae, at 14.1%; B. grahamii, 2.6%; B. henselae (Houston-1), 1.2%; B. henselae (Marseille), 1.8%; B. quintana, 0.2%; and B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii, 0.0%. Univariate and multivariate analyses of epidemiological and demographical information revealed an increased rate of B. elizabethae seropositivity in blood donors working outdoors, being out in the wild a minimum of once a week, hunting moose, having cat contact, and travelling to Eastern Europe. Living in the southern region of Sweden (Lund area) was associated with decreased seropositivity to B. elizabethae.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala.
authors.forename: Svena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wesslén
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hjelm
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Marja Kaisa
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Auvinen
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grandin-Jarl
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Friman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001473:Bartonella / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology; D001782:Blood Donors; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D006224:Cricetinae; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial