title: Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this survey was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) in subjects at risk of exposure in Sicily, Southern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of IgG antibodies to C. burnetii phase II antigens was evaluated by ELISA in a group of 140 workers at risk of exposure (38 veterinarians, 38 slaughterhouse workers, 44 livestock handlers, 20 laboratory and technical personnel) included in a medical surveillance program and in 42 control subjects. Positive samples were classified as suggestive of prior exposure to C. burnetii.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 88 out of 140 (62.9%) exposed workers and in 6 out of 42 (14.3%) subjects of the control group. The variables evaluated did not seem to have a significant effect on seropositivity to Coxiella with the exception of symptoms in the last 6 months preceding the survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated a high seroprevalence of C. burnetii in the group of exposed workers in comparison to non-exposed subjects of the control group. Clinical illness appears to be rare; nevertheless, physicians should consider Q fever in patients with compatible symptoms and occupational exposure to animals and their products. As aerosols represent the main route of infection in animals and humans, these workers are strongly advised to wear respiratory masks. In addition, occupational physicians should consider routine serologic evaluation and vaccination of occupationally exposed workers.
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section - Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences).
authors.forename: Concettina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fenga
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section - Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences). silviagangemi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section - Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences). annamariadel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images). scalimeri@unime.it.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calimeri
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images). dlogiudice@unime.it.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lo Giudice
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences). mpugliese@unime.it.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Doctor, Ragusa, Italy. giuseppe.licitra@asp.rg.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Licitra
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Economical, Business and Environmental Sciences and Quantitative Methods). angela.alibrandi@unime.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alibrandi
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section - Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences). ccosta@unime.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Coxiella burnetii; anthropozoonosis; health surveillance; occupational hazard; prevention; seroprevalence