title: [Seroepidemiology of Coxiella burnetii infection among blood donors in Albacete].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii among blood donors and to examine the epidemiological characteristics of C. burnetii infection in Albacete, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 863 serum samples were collected from blood donors aged 18-65 years. Donor samples were stratified by age, sex, and residence (rural or urban). IgG and IgM titers to the C. burnetii phase II antigen were determined by an indirect immunofluorescence assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anti-phase II IgG was 23.1%, and three (0.3%) donors had positive IgM titers. Men were more frequently seropositive than women (29% vs. 18%; OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.34-2.56), and this difference was not related to differential occupational exposure to animals. Pet ownership had no impact on seroprevalence. In contrast, occupations involving contact with domestic ungulates were associated with a higher seroprevalence (OR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.04-5.48). Nevertheless, 90% of seropositive donors reported no contact with farm animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that C. burnetii infection is highly endemic in Albacete and that most infections are not linked to specific occupational exposure in this area. The high prevalence of antibodies to C. burnetii among blood donors indicates the advisability of studies to determine the risk of transfusion-transmitted Q fever in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España. jbartolome@sescam.jccm.es
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernández-Pérez
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Ruiz
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luján
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorente
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medrano-Callejas
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crespo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial