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© 1998 Oxford University Press

research-article

High seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in Eastern Cantabria (Spain)

F Pascual-Velascoa, M Montesb,, JM Marimónb and G Cillab

aDepartment of internal Medldne, Hospital Comarcal de Laredo Cantabria, Spain
bDepartment of Microbiology. Hospital NS Ar´nzazu San Sebastlán, Gipuzkoa, Spain

Reprint requests to: Mila Montes, Servido de Microbiologia. Hospital NS Aránzazu, Aptdo de Correos 477. 20080 San Sebastián, Spain

BACKGROUND: coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis which shows a wide diversity of clinical manifestations. The objective of this seroepi demiological study was to estimate the prevalence of antibodies to C. burnetii in a representative population of the Eastern area of the Cantabrian Community (Northern Spain).

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 595 subjects from Eastern Cantabna. Four different zones (one urban and three rural zones) were defined according to the geographical characteristics of the area and the economic activities of the population. The population sample for this study was collected between December 1994 and March 1995, and was stratified by age, sex and municipality of residence. IgG and IgM antibodies against C. burnetii were assayed by an indirect imrnunofluorescence technique.

RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-phase II Coxiella IgG (titre ≥1:16) was 48.6% (95% confidence interval: 44.6–52.6%), with 8 1.3% having a titre of ≥1:64. The prevalence of IgG increased with age, ranging from 12.0% in people <15 years to 70.3% in those >65 years (P < 0.001). The antibody detection rate was higher in males (53.6%) than in females (43.3%) (P < 0.01). The prevalence of anti-phase II Coxiella IgG was less among subjects living in the urban zone (32.8%) than in those living in the other three rural zones: the two situated on the coast (54.0% and 54.9% respectively) and the inner mountainous zone (82.3%) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of C. burnetii infection observed in this study is one of the highest reported in Europe. The eastern area of Cantabria is a hyperendemic area for Q fever.

Keywords Q fever, Coxiella burnetii, antibodies, prevalence, seroepidemiological study

Accepted 8 May 1997


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 Am J Trop Med HygHome page
N. CARDENOSA, I. SANFELIU, B. FONT, T. MUNOZ, M. M. NOGUERAS, and F. SEGURA
SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN INFECTION BY COXIELLA BURNETII IN BARCELONA (NORTHEAST OF SPAIN).
Am J Trop Med Hyg, July 1, 2006; 75(1): 33 - 35.
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