Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily
[b]Introduction and objective. [/b]Little is known about the development of chronic Q fever caused by [i]Coxiella burnetii [/i]in occupational risk groups and in the general population in Italy, as well as in many countries in the world. The aim of this study was to highlight the presence of the inf...
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doaj-b0a7d1619e1a485fa811767ad8f137992020-11-25T01:05:37ZengInstitute of Rural HealthAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine1232-19661898-22632015-12-01231717410.5604/12321966.119685572376Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western SicilyMG Verso0G Vesco1S Villari2P Galluzzo3V Gargano4D Matranga5P De Marchis6D Picciotto7Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care ‘G. D’Alessandro’, Occupational Health Section, University of Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care ‘G. D’Alessandro’, Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care ‘G. D’Alessandro’, Occupational Health Section, University of Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care ‘G. D’Alessandro’, Occupational Health Section, University of Palermo, Italy[b]Introduction and objective. [/b]Little is known about the development of chronic Q fever caused by [i]Coxiella burnetii [/i]in occupational risk groups and in the general population in Italy, as well as in many countries in the world. The aim of this study was to highlight the presence of the infection in a sample of workers operating outdoors (but not directly in contact with animals), in three provinces of western Sicily, in order to detect the human seroprevalence and compare the obtained data with those found in animals raised in the same territory. [b]Materials and methods.[/b] The study included 126 generic seasonal agricultural workers (labourers), 84 male and 42 female; none of whom were aware of any previous contact with[i] Coxiella burnetii.[/i] Their immunologic status against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] was tested through research and titration of both phases I and II specific antibodies (IgG) with an indirect immunofluorescence assay, using anti-antibodies labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. All data were statistically analyzed, comparing all positive results from the three provinces through variance analysis, and then comparing human results with those obtained from animals raised in the considered areas, specifically, 1,511 cows, 46 of which were found positive (3.04%), and 3,391 sheep, 548 of which were found positive (16.16%). [b]Results.[/b] Anti-Coxiella antibodies were found in nine of 42 females sampled (21.4%; 95%CI=[9.0–33.8]) and 21 of 84 males sampled (25.0%; 95%CI=[15.7–34.3]). 60% (18 of 30; 95%CI=[42.5–77.5]) of seropositive samples were positive either for Phase I antigen or for both Phase I and II antigens, representing cases of chronic infection. Applying Spearman’s rank correlation, the percentage of seropositive humans was significantly correlated with that observed for sheep (r=1.00; p<0.001), but not for cows (r=-0.5; p=0.667). [b]Conclusions. [/b]The results obtained, although based on a small sample, suggest that the disease is present in the territory of Western Sicily, both in animals and in humans. A closer collaboration between doctors and veterinarians is therefore necessary to fight against the spread of the infection.http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Analysis-of-seroprevalence-against-i-Coxiella-burnetii-i-in-a-sample-of-farm-workers-in-Western-Sicily,72376,0,2.htmlQ feverenvironmental exposureCoxiella burnetii |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
MG Verso G Vesco S Villari P Galluzzo V Gargano D Matranga P De Marchis D Picciotto |
spellingShingle |
MG Verso G Vesco S Villari P Galluzzo V Gargano D Matranga P De Marchis D Picciotto Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine Q fever environmental exposure Coxiella burnetii |
author_facet |
MG Verso G Vesco S Villari P Galluzzo V Gargano D Matranga P De Marchis D Picciotto |
author_sort |
MG Verso |
title |
Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily |
title_short |
Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily |
title_full |
Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily |
title_fullStr |
Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily |
title_full_unstemmed |
Analysis of seroprevalence against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in Western Sicily |
title_sort |
analysis of seroprevalence against [i]coxiella burnetii[/i] in a sample of farm workers in western sicily |
publisher |
Institute of Rural Health |
series |
Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
issn |
1232-1966 1898-2263 |
publishDate |
2015-12-01 |
description |
[b]Introduction and objective. [/b]Little is known about the development of chronic Q fever caused by [i]Coxiella burnetii [/i]in occupational risk groups and in the general population in Italy, as well as in many countries in the world. The aim of this study was to highlight the presence of the infection in a sample of workers operating outdoors (but not directly in contact with animals), in three provinces of western Sicily, in order to detect the human seroprevalence and compare the obtained data with those found in animals raised in the same territory.
[b]Materials and methods.[/b] The study included 126 generic seasonal agricultural workers (labourers), 84 male and 42 female; none of whom were aware of any previous contact with[i] Coxiella burnetii.[/i] Their immunologic status against [i]Coxiella burnetii[/i] was tested through research and titration of both phases I and II specific antibodies (IgG) with an indirect immunofluorescence assay, using anti-antibodies labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. All data were statistically analyzed, comparing all positive results from the three provinces through variance analysis, and then comparing human results with those obtained from animals raised in the considered areas, specifically, 1,511 cows, 46 of which were found positive (3.04%), and 3,391 sheep, 548 of which were found positive (16.16%).
[b]Results.[/b] Anti-Coxiella antibodies were found in nine of 42 females sampled (21.4%; 95%CI=[9.0–33.8]) and 21 of 84 males sampled (25.0%; 95%CI=[15.7–34.3]). 60% (18 of 30; 95%CI=[42.5–77.5]) of seropositive samples were positive either for Phase I antigen or for both Phase I and II antigens, representing cases of chronic infection. Applying Spearman’s rank correlation, the percentage of seropositive humans was significantly correlated with that observed for sheep (r=1.00; p<0.001), but not for cows (r=-0.5; p=0.667).
[b]Conclusions. [/b]The results obtained, although based on a small sample, suggest that the disease is present in the territory of Western Sicily, both in animals and in humans. A closer collaboration between doctors and veterinarians is therefore necessary to fight against the spread of the infection. |
topic |
Q fever environmental exposure Coxiella burnetii |
url |
http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Analysis-of-seroprevalence-against-i-Coxiella-burnetii-i-in-a-sample-of-farm-workers-in-Western-Sicily,72376,0,2.html |
work_keys_str_mv |
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