title: Prevalence of Antibodies to Coxiella burnetii Among Veterinarians and Slaughterhouse Workers in Nova Scotia.
abstract: The complement fixation and the microimmunofluorescence tests were used to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q fever, among veterinarians and slaughterhouse workers in Nova Scotia. Seventeen percent of the 65 veterinarians and 12.5% of the 96 slaughterhouse workers tested had complement fixing antibodies to phase II C. burnetii antigen. Forty-nine percent of the veterinarians and 35% of the slaughterhouse workers had an antibody titer of >/= 1:8 to phase II C. burnetii antigen using the microimmunofluorescence test while 30% of the veterinarians and 14.5% of the slaughterhouse workers had antibodies detected to phase I antigen. Male veterinarians had a significantly higher rate of antibodies to C. burnetii phase II antigen compared with female veterinarians (p < 0.0087). An univariate analysis revealed that positive antibody titers (microimmunofluorescence test) to phase II antigen among veterinarians were significantly associated with exposure to cow, sheep and goat placentas; to stillborn calves, newborn foals, lambs and kids. By multivariate analysis the risk was highest for male veterinarians exposed to sheep placentas.Slaughtering cattle was a significant risk factor for positive antibody titers among slaughterhouse workers.We conclude that the high rate of antibodies to C. burnetii among Nova Scotia veterinarians and slaughterhouse workers is a reflection of the prevalence of Q fever in Nova Scotia and indicates that domestic ungulates are probably important in the epidemiology of Q fever in this province.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Marrie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fraser