Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy
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 o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
2015-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijomeh.eu/Seroprevalence-and-occupational-risk-survey-for-Coxiella-burnetii-among-exposed-workers-in-Sicily-Southern-Italy,58537,0,2.html |
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| author | Concettina Fenga Silvia Gangemi Annamaria De Luca Sebastiano Calimeri Daniela Lo Giudice Michela Pugliese Francesca Licitra Angela Alibrandi Chiara Costa |
| author_facet | Concettina Fenga Silvia Gangemi Annamaria De Luca Sebastiano Calimeri Daniela Lo Giudice Michela Pugliese Francesca Licitra Angela Alibrandi Chiara Costa |
| author_sort | Concettina Fenga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:49:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1e50ae5117c425d9e1cd9f3908ea5be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1232-1087 1896-494X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:49:29Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1e50ae5117c425d9e1cd9f3908ea5be2022-12-21T21:52:01ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineInternational Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health1232-10871896-494X2015-10-01285901907Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern ItalyConcettina FengaSilvia GangemiAnnamaria De LucaSebastiano CalimeriDaniela Lo GiudiceMichela PuglieseFrancesca LicitraAngela AlibrandiChiara CostaObjectives: 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.http://ijomeh.eu/Seroprevalence-and-occupational-risk-survey-for-Coxiella-burnetii-among-exposed-workers-in-Sicily-Southern-Italy,58537,0,2.htmlseroprevalenceCoxiella burnetiioccupational hazardanthropozoonosishealth surveillanceprevention |
| spellingShingle | Concettina Fenga Silvia Gangemi Annamaria De Luca Sebastiano Calimeri Daniela Lo Giudice Michela Pugliese Francesca Licitra Angela Alibrandi Chiara Costa Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health seroprevalence Coxiella burnetii occupational hazard anthropozoonosis health surveillance prevention |
| title | Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy |
| title_full | Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy |
| title_short | Seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for Coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in Sicily, Southern Italy |
| title_sort | seroprevalence and occupational risk survey for coxiella burnetii among exposed workers in sicily southern italy |
| topic | seroprevalence Coxiella burnetii occupational hazard anthropozoonosis health surveillance prevention |
| url | http://ijomeh.eu/Seroprevalence-and-occupational-risk-survey-for-Coxiella-burnetii-among-exposed-workers-in-Sicily-Southern-Italy,58537,0,2.html |
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