title: Neurologic symptoms and neuropathologic antibodies in poultry workers exposed to Campylobacter jejuni.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between occupational exposure to live poultry with Campylobacter exposure, Campylobacter-associated neurologic symptoms, and neuropathologic antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires, serum samples, and stool specimens were collected from 20 poultry workers and 40 community referents. Campylobacter exposure was evaluated by stool culture and serum antibodies; neurologic symptoms were assessed by questionnaire; and neuropathologic antibodies were measured by serum anti-glycolipid antibody concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poultry workers had significantly higher anti-Campylobacter immunoglobulin G titers compared with that of referents (P < 0.05); they were significantly more likely to report multiple Campylobacter-associated neurologic symptoms; and male poultry workers had a higher point risk estimate for detectable neuropathologic anti-glycolipid immunoglobulin G titers (P = 0.07) compared with male referents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that poultry workers are at elevated risk of Campylobacter exposure and may be at elevated risk for Campylobacter-associated neurologic sequelae.
authors.affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21224-2780, USA. lprice6@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Lance B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roess
authors.forename: Jay P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baqar
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vailes
authors.forename: Kazim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silbergeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009462:Neurology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial