Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infections Among North Dakota Sheep Producers

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 40; no. 11; pp. 999 - 1006
• Main Authors: Guo, How-Ran, Gilmore, Rodney, Waag, David M., Shireley, Larry, Freund, Eugene
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-11-1998; Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology; Animal bacterial diseases; Animal Husbandry - statistics & numerical data; Animals; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; North Dakota - epidemiology; ORIGINAL ARTICLES; Prevalence; Q Fever - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex Distribution; Sheep; Surveys and Questionnaires; North Dakota; Human; Prevalence; Rickettsialosis; Toxicity; Occupational exposure; Infection; Rickettsiales; Case study; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Rickettsial infection; Q fever; Risk factor; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Sheep; Rearing; Artiodactyla; Rickettsieae; Coxiella burnetii; Rickettsiaceae; Ungulata; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 1076-2752; 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/00043764-199811000-00011

A case of Q fever in a sheep producer was detected by a surveillance system in North Dakota in 1993, when Q fever was not reportable. This is the first officially documented case in the state. To estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection and identify associated risk factors, we conducted a study covering the whole state. A total of 17 cases were identified among 496 sheep producers, their family members and hired helpers. The number of sheep raised was a good predictor of C. burnetii infection. Lambing outdoors and frequent physical contacts with sheep during lambing were associated with a higher risk, bu petting dogs was correlated with a lower risk. We conclude that C. burnetii infection is prevalent among sheep producers in North Dakota. As the result, Q fever became a reportable disease in North Dakota.