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Editing and translations
ORIGINAL PAPER
Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy
| 1 | University of Messina, Messina, Italy
(Occupational Medicine Section – Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences) |
| 2 | University of Messina, Messina, Italy
(Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images) |
| 3 | University of Messina, Messina, Italy
(Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences) |
| 4 | Veterinary Doctor, Ragusa, Italy |
| 5 | University of Messina, Messina, Italy
(Department of Economical, Business and Environmental Sciences and Quantitative Methods) |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Silvia Gangemi
University of Messina, Occupational Medicine Section, Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences, Policlinico Universitario “G. Martino,” Via Consolare Valeria 1, Messina 98125, Italy
University of Messina, Occupational Medicine Section, Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences, Policlinico Universitario “G. Martino,” Via Consolare Valeria 1, Messina 98125, Italy
Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2015;28(5):901–907
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
clinical occupational medicineoccupational diseases and work-related diseases, including asthma and rhinitis (case studies, diagnostics, prevention, risk factors)infectious diseasesoccupational health servicesbiological agents exposure health effectshuman biomarkers in occupational and environmental healthenvironmental epidemiologyoccupational epidemiologybiological agents at the workplace
ABSTRACT
Objectives: 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. Material and 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.
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