[Seroprevalence of brucellosis among risk population in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 2006].
OBJECTIVE
Cases of human brucellosis in Korea have recently increased due to the increasing incidence of bovine brucellosis. The authors conducted this study to elucidate the status of brucellosis through seroepidemiologic study.


METHODS
We selected our study population from a high risk group. We conducted a questionnaire survey and obtained blood samples to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis antibodies for 10 days in February, 2005. The titers of brucellosis were measured by the combination of standard tube agglutination test (STA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test.


RESULTS
Our study subjects comprised 1,075 cases: 971 livestock workers, 51 veterinarians, and 53 artificial inseminators. In the STA test, 27 cases (2.5%) had titers of greater than or equal to 1:20. Of 1,068 cases (7 cases were excluded due to previous brucellosis), 7 cases of brucellosis were diagnosed with titers of 1:160, giving a seroprevalence of brucellosis of 0.66%. The seroprevalence in the male group was 0.95%, and that of livestock workers, veterinarians, and artificial inseminators was 0.52%, 4.17%, and 0.00%, respectively. The Spearman's correlation coefficient between the positive rate of bovine brucellosis per capita and household and human brucellosis was 0.806 and 0.744, respectively. The concordance rate between the Korea National Institute of Health and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment by the STA and ELISA tests was 94.7% and 100.0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results indicated in higher seroprevalence rate among veterinarians than among livestock workers and artificial inseminators. Because veterinarians may be exposed to this high risk, effective working guidelines for veterinarians to guard against brucellosis must be developed. Moreover, more extensive epidemiologic research for laboratory workers and meat handlers is needed.
Lee
Kwan
K
Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Korea.
Lim
Hyun-Sul
HS
Park
Woo Won
WW
Kim
Sung Hwan
SH
Lee
Do-Young
DY
Park
Mi Yeoun
MY
Hur
Youngju
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D018634:Veterinarians