title: Trends of human brucellosis in Italy, 1998-2010.
abstract: We describe the epidemiological trends and spatial distribution of human brucellosis in Italy over 13 years (1998-2010). In the study period 8483 cases were notified in Italy, with a relevant decrease (-89%) from 1998 to 2010. Most cases were notified in southern Italy (Campania, Apulia, Calabria, Sicily). In these regions we observed relevant differences in the risk of brucellosis at province level. Cases were distributed with a seasonal pattern, male patients represented 60% of the cases and no significant differences were observed between age groups. We modelled the underreporting rate that ranged between 2 and 21 (average 12·5). According to our estimates the true number of cases would have ranged from 41 821 to 155 324 providing a far more severe picture of human brucellosis in Italy than the one provided by the surveillance system.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bella
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marianelli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mughini-Gras
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasquali
authors.affiliation: Ministero della Salute, Department of Prevention and Communication, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pompa
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Ministero della Salute, Department of Prevention and Communication, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzuto
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Busani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
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