title: Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) prevalence in associated populations of humans and small ruminants in The Gambia.
abstract: To simultaneously estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) among adults and small ruminants, and C. burnetii shedding prevalence among small ruminants in households in the Kiang West district of The Gambia, and to assess associated risk factors.
  
  
  
  Sera of 599 adults and 615 small ruminants from 125 compounds within 12 villages were tested for antibodies against C. burnetii using ELISA. Vaginal swabs and milk samples of 155 small ruminants were tested using PCR to investigate shedding of C. burnetii.
  
  
  
  A total of 3.8-9.7% of adults, depending on ELISA test cut-off, and 24.9% of small ruminants in Kiang West were seropositive. Having at least one seropositive animal in one's compound was a risk factor for human seropositivity (OR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.09-14.44). A grazing area within a village was a risk factor for seropositivity in small ruminants (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.26-3.50); others were having lambed (OR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.37-5.76) and older age of the animals (OR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.37-5.76 for 1-3 years and OR 5.84, 95% CI: 3.10-11.64 for >3 years); 57.4% of sampled small ruminants were shedding C. burnetii.
  
  
  
  Coxiella burnetii infection is endemic among both humans and small ruminants in this area of The Gambia. Human and animal exposure to C. burnetii were related at compound level. Further research into the clinical relevance of C. burnetii infection in West Africa is needed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bok
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lenny
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hogerwerf
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eveline A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Germeraad
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Central Veterinary Institute, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hendrik I J
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Roest
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Tisbeh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Faye-Joof
authors.affiliation: International Trypanotolerance Centre, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Momodou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Davis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nwakanma
authors.affiliation: International Trypanotolerance Centre, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Arss
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Secka
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stegeman
authors.affiliation: Kombo Veterinary Services, Bakau, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wegmüller
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.|Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marianne A B
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van der Sande
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Hoek
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, Banjul, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Ousman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Secka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006041:Goats / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies
keywords: Gambia; Q fever; goats; humans; seroepidemiologic studies; sheep