Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy

• Authors: Concettina Fenga , Silvia Gangemi , Annamaria De Luca , Sebastiano Calimeri , Daniela Lo Giudice , Michela Pugliese , Francesca Licitra , Angela Alibrandi , Chiara Costa

Abstracts

EN

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.

Keywords

EN

seroprevalence; Coxiella burnetii; occupational hazard; anthropozoonosis; health surveillance; prevention

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 901-907

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Concettina Fenga

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section – Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences)

author

Silvia Gangemi

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section – Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences)

author

Annamaria De Luca

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section – Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences)

author

Sebastiano Calimeri

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images)

author

Daniela Lo Giudice

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images)

author

Michela Pugliese

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences)

author

Francesca Licitra

• Veterinary Doctor, Ragusa, Italy

author

Angela Alibrandi

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Department of Economical, Business and Environmental Sciences and Quantitative Methods)

author

Chiara Costa

• University of Messina, Messina, Italy (Occupational Medicine Section – Department of the Environment, Security, Territory, Food and Health Sciences)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00448

Biblioteka Nauki

2177166