Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) seropositivity in veterinary medicine students.
- Journal:
- PloS one
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- de Rooij, Myrna M T et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences · Netherlands
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the risk of Q fever, caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, among veterinary medicine students in the Netherlands. Researchers tested blood samples from 674 students and found that 18.7% had antibodies indicating they had been exposed to the bacteria. The study identified several risk factors, including studying farm animals, being in advanced years of study, having had a zoonotic disease (an illness that can be transmitted from animals to humans), and having lived on a farm with ruminant animals like cows or sheep. The findings suggest that veterinary medicine students are at a significant risk for Q fever due to their studies and experiences.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Q fever is an occupational risk for veterinarians, however little is known about the risk for veterinary medicine students. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii among veterinary medicine students and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with questionnaire and blood sample collection was performed among all veterinary medicine students studying in The Netherlands in 2006. Serum samples (n = 674), representative of all study years and study directions, were analyzed for C. burnetii IgG and IgM phase I and II antibodies with an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Seropositivity was defined as IgG phase I and/or II titer of 1:32 and above. RESULTS: Of the veterinary medicine students 126 (18.7%) had IgG antibodies against C. burnetii. Seropositivity associated risk factors identified were the study direction 'farm animals' (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.27 [95% CI 2.14-5.02]), advanced year of study (OR year 6: 2.31 [1.22-4.39] OR year 3-5 1.83 [1.07-3.10]) having had a zoonosis during the study (OR 1.74 [1.07-2.82]) and ever lived on a ruminant farm (OR 2.73 [1.59-4.67]). Stratified analysis revealed study direction 'farm animals' to be a study-related risk factor apart from ever living on a farm. In addition we identified a clear dose-response relation for the number of years lived on a farm with C. burnetii seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: C. burnetii seroprevalence is considerable among veterinary medicine students and study related risk factors were identified. This indicates Q fever as an occupational risk for veterinary medicine students.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22363803/