Open AccessA serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii infection in children and young adults in South West Queensland
Author(s) -
Parker Neil,
Robson Jennifer,
Bell Morton
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00478.x
Subject(s) - coxiella burnetii , q fever , incidence (geometry) , vaccination , medicine , indirect immunofluorescence , rickettsiosis , seroprevalence , serology , demography , veterinary medicine , immunology , virology , antibody , physics , sociology , optics
Objective:To describe the seroepidemiology of Coxiella burnetii , the causative agent of Q fever, in those under 25 years of age in South West Queensland.Methods:A convenience sample of residual sera from a diagnostic laboratory was tested for C. burnetii antibodies by immunofluorescence at 1:10 dilution. Prevalence and annual incidence were calculated from the results.Results:Twenty‐nine of 447 (6.5%, 95% CI 4.5%‐9.2%) samples were positive. Seropositivity increased from 2.5% in those <15 (95% CI 1.0%‐5.5%) to 11.0% in those 15‐24 years old (95% CI 7.4%‐16.0%). The estimated annual incidence for the latter age group was 7.7 per 1,000.Conclusions:Q fever is a relatively common infection in South West Queensland, even in those aged <15 years for whom the vaccine is not recommended.Implications:Vaccination programs, such as the federally funded National Q fever Management Program, are needed in this and similar high risk rural areas.