title: Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence of shepherds and their flocks in the lower Saint-Lawrence River region of Quebec, Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii among the shepherds and their sheep in the lower Saint-Lawrence River region (LSLRR) of Quebec, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective human-animal comparative study was conducted with 81 shepherds from 46 farms and a control group matched for sex and age. All participants answered a standardized questionnaire to evaluate their risk factors for Q fever, including a specific section on the work practices of the shepherds. All human subjects had a blood sample taken for serology to phase I and phase II antigens of C burnetii performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. At each participating farm, seven to nine sheep had blood samples taken for C burnetii serology to be assessed by the complement fixation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence to C burnetii was higher in the group of shepherds (28.4%) than the control group (1.2%) (P<0.005). Among the group of shepherds, spending more than 5 h/week in the sheep barn (P=0.06) and buying and/or trading sheep within the past six months (P=0.004) were associated with positive C burnetii serology. A total of 137 of 334 sheep (41%) were seropositive for C burnetii. These positive sheep were distributed in 41 of the 46 flocks (89%). No correlation could be demonstrated between a serology for C burnetii in the herds and the shepherds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Q fever is highly prevalent in the LSLRR of Quebec, affecting 89% of the flocks and 28% of the shepherds. Shepherds in this region are at increased risk for C burnetii infection in comparison to the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Régional de Rimouski, Rimouski.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolcé
authors.forename: Marie-Joële
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bélanger
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tumanowicz
authors.forename: Claude P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jutras
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montpetit
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bernatchez
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Artsob