title: Seroprevalence to Coxiella burnetii among residents of the Hunter New England region of New South Wales, Australia.
abstract: Exposure to Coxiella burnetii is a risk in the Hunter New England (HNE) region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, based on yearly reported cases of Q fever. We assessed seroprevalence of phase II antibodies to C. burnetii by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA; screening at 1/50 dilution) of residents of 24 local government areas (LGA) of the HNE region of NSW. A total of 2,438 randomly selected sera sent to the Hunter Area Pathology Service for routine diagnostic purposes (not Q fever testing) during the period of 2006-2009 were tested. The overall seroprevalence in sample group was 7%. The proportion of males (59%) was higher than females (41%). In age distribution, the largest proportion (37%) of seropositives was in the > 60 years age group. Lower prevalence was observed in 0-9 years (1%) and 10-19 years (5%) age groups. The seroprevalence in different LGAs varied between 0.5% and 22%. It was highest in Guyra (22%), Gunnedah (21%), Tenterfield (18%), and Narrabri (16%), with Newcastle (0.5%), Port Stephens (2%), Lake Macquarie (3%), and Singleton (3%) being the lowest. In most of the LGAs, seroprevalence was between 6% and 12%. This report indicates a considerable exposure to C. burnetii of residents in rural areas of the HNE region and is consistent with the high notification rate for Q fever in this part of Australia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hunter Area Pathology Service, Pathology North, John Hunter Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. aminul.islam@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Aminul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Givney
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graves
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016997:Coxiella burnetii; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult