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Q fever in the Netherlands: a sero-epidemiological survey among human population groups from 1968 to 1983

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

J. H. Richardus ,
A. Donkers ,
A. M. Dumas ,
G. J. P. Schaap ,
J. P. W. M. Akkermans ,
J. Huisman  and
H. A. Valkenburg
J. H. Richardus
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Virology, Public Health Service of the City of Rotterdam, POB 70032, 3000 LP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
A. Donkers
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Virology, Public Health Service of the City of Rotterdam, POB 70032, 3000 LP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
A. M. Dumas
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Virology, Public Health Service of the City of Rotterdam, POB 70032, 3000 LP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
G. J. P. Schaap
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Virology, Public Health Service of the City of Rotterdam, POB 70032, 3000 LP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
J. P. W. M. Akkermans
Affiliation:
Stichting Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren in West Nederland, POB 87, 2800 AB Gouda, The Netherlands
J. Huisman
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of the City of Rotterdam, POB 70032, 3000 LP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
H. A. Valkenburg
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, Erasmus University, POB 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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A sero-epidemiological survey, using an indirect immunofluorescence test for IgG against Coxiella burnetii (phase II), was carried out in the Netherlands. Serum samples taken in 1968, 1975, 1979 and 1983 were tested. Occupational groups with a supposedly high risk of infection (veterinarians, residents of dairy farms and taxidermists) showed a significantly higher percentage of seropositives than defined controls. The percentage of seropositive amateur wool spinners was significantly higher than that of the controls from the same region. Since 1968 there has been no increase in the percentage of infected persons, indicating that, contrary to earlier assumptions, Q fever has been endemic in The Netherlands for a long time already. The increase in numbers of notified cases of overt Q fever is considered to be the result of the recent introduction of a sensitive indirect immunofluorescence test for IgM antibodies against C. burnetii. Antibody percentages in all age classes between 1 and 64 years were much alike, suggesting that most infections occur in early childhood. This is in accordance with the finding that 35% of our patients are younger than 3 years. The possibility of infection related to childbirth and lactation is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 98 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 211 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

References

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