title: Seroconversion for infectious pathogens among UK military personnel deployed to Afghanistan, 2008-2011.
abstract: Military personnel are at high risk of contracting vector-borne and zoonotic infections, particularly during overseas deployments, when they may be exposed to endemic or emerging infections not prevalent in their native countries. We conducted seroprevalence testing of 467 UK military personnel deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during 2008-2011 and found that up to 3.1% showed seroconversion for infection with Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, sandfly fever virus, or hantavirus; none showed seroconversion for infection with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Most seroconversions occurred in personnel who did not report illness, except for those with hantavirus (70% symptomatic). These results indicate that many exposures to infectious pathogens, and potentially infections resulting from those exposures, may go unreported. Our findings reinforce the need for continued surveillance of military personnel and for education of health care providers to help recognize and prevent illnesses and transmission of pathogens during and after overseas deployments.
authors.forename: Edmund N C
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bridge
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jameson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosworth
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayward-Karlsson
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hewson
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan; D000818:Animals; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000266:history / Q000635:transmission; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission