title: Zoonotic infections among veterinarians in Turkey: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and beyond.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus, Brucella spp, and Coxiella burnetii among veterinarians in a highly endemic and a non-endemic region for these infections in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antibody levels against these three infections were surveyed. Eighty-three veterinarians were included from two distinct geographic regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCHF IgG positivity (3% vs. 0%) and Brucella agglutination titer of > or =1/160 (33% vs. 5%) were more common in the endemic region, whereas the rates of Coxiella burnetii antibodies were similar (7% and 8%). A history of tick bite was significantly more common in the endemic region (35% vs. 12%, p=0.011). A multivariate analysis was performed among the veterinarians living in the endemic area, and percutaneous injuries were found to be associated with Brucella infection (OR 1.8, CI 1.09-3, p=0.022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Veterinarians should protect themselves against tick bites, and should use masks to prevent transmission by inhalation of zoonotic infections in endemic countries.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. onderegonul@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ergönül
authors.forename: Herve
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiliç
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: Senel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavusoglu
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Başak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dokuzoğuz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000276:immunology*; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D018634:Veterinarians; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral