Zoonotic infections among veterinarians in Turkey: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and beyond.
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.
Ergönül
Onder
O
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. onderegonul@yahoo.com
Zeller
Herve
H
Kiliç
Selçuk
S
Kutlu
Selda
S
Kutlu
Murat
M
Cavusoglu
Senel
S
Esen
Berrin
B
Dokuzoğuz
Başak
B
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*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral