Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and risk factors in sheep farmers and farm residents in The Netherlands.
In this study, Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence was assessed for dairy and non-dairy sheep farm residents in The Netherlands for 2009-2010. Risk factors for seropositivity were identified for non-dairy sheep farm residents. Participants completed farm-based and individual questionnaires. In addition, participants were tested for IgG and IgM C. burnetii antibodies using immunofluorescent assay. Risk factors were identified by univariate, multivariate logistic regression, and multivariate multilevel analyses. In dairy and non-dairy sheep farm residents, seroprevalence was 66·7% and 51·3%, respectively. Significant risk factors were cattle contact, high goat density near the farm, sheep supplied from two provinces, high frequency of refreshing stable bedding, farm started before 1990 and presence of the Blessumer breed. Most risk factors indicate current or past goat and cattle exposure, with limited factors involving sheep. Subtyping human, cattle, goat, and sheep C. burnetii strains might elucidate their role in the infection risk of sheep farm residents.
Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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MM
De Lange
Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
B
B
Schimmer
Department of Small Ruminant Health, Animal Health Service (GD), Deventer, The Netherlands.
P
P
Vellema
Department of Primary and Community Care, Academic Collaborative Centre for Public Health (AMPHI), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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JL
Hautvast
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Jeroen Bosch Hospital,'s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
P M
PM
Schneeberger
Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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YT
Van Duijnhoven
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D003612:Dairying; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011778:Q Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M