title: Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Humans Occupationally Exposed to Animals in Poland.
abstract: Coxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of Q fever, and outbreaks of Q fever have been reported in different parts of Europe both in animals and humans. Human infections are mostly associated with infections in ruminants, e.g., sheep, goats, and cows. Various professional groups are occupationally exposed to infection with C. burnetii. The aim of this study was investigate the prevalence of C. burnetii in farm workers. Serum samples were collected from 151 persons from six different regions of Poland. The serum samples were tested using three serological methods--complement fixation test (CFT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA). A total of 71 samples of blood were also tested by real-time PCR. The results showed that antibodies against C. burnetii were present in the tested sera. Average percentages of seropositive samples in IFA, ELISA, and CFT were 31.12%, 39.07%, and 15.23%, respectively. Positive results were noted in each testing center. Of the three test types, IFA results were considered the most sensitive. Real-time PCR confirmed the presence of DNA specific for C. burnetii in 10 patients. The farming workforce constitutes an occupational risk group with an increased risk for C. burnetii infection, presumably because of their contact with infected livestock.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Serological Diagnosis/Cattle and Sheep Disease, National Veterinary Research Institute , Pulawy, Poland .
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szymańska-Czerwińska
authors.forename: Elżbieta Monika
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Galińska
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niemczuk
authors.forename: Józef Piotr
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Knap
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Coxiella burnetii; Humans; Prevalence; Q fever; Serological testing