title: Serosurvey of bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens among deployed U.S. service members.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory illnesses can cause substantial morbidity during military deployments. Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are hypothesized causes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine pathogen-specific seroprevalence prior to and after deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of 1000 service members deployed between June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2007, was conducted from 2008 through 2009. Pre- and post-deployment sera were tested for the presence of antibody to each pathogen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-deployment IgG seropositivity was high for adenovirus, RSV, and parainfluenza (98.7%, 97.8%, and 81.6%, respectively), whereas seropositivity for B. pertussis, M. pneumoniae, and C. pneumoniae was 14.2%, 21.9%, and 65.1%, respectively. As defined by seroconversion in 1000 subjects, the following were identified: 43 new parainfluenza infections (24% of susceptibles); 37 new pertussis infections (4% of susceptibles); 33 new C. pneumoniae infections (10% of susceptibles); and 29 new M. pneumoniae infections (4% of susceptibles). B. pertussis seroconversion was two to four times higher than reports for the general U.S. population. Overall, 14.2% of the service members seroconverted to at least one of these six pathogens; this increased to 30.1% seroconversion when influenza was included. However, serologic testing was not clearly associated with clinical illness in this report.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serologic evidence for respiratory infections was common among the 2004-2007 OEF-deployed military, sometimes at a higher rate than the general U.S. population. Awareness of this risk and implementation of preventive measures should be emphasized by leadership prior to and during deployment.
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, 11800 Tech Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. angie.eick@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Angelia A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Eick
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Faix
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tobler
authors.forename: Remington L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nevin
authors.forename: Luther E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lindler
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: MacIntosh
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Joel C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gaydos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G