Bartonella henselae Seroprevalence in Cattle Breeders and Veterinarians in the Rural Areas of Aydin and Denizli, Turkey

• Published in: Zoonoses and public health Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 445 - 449
• Main Authors: Sayin-Kutlu, S., Ergin, C., Kutlu, M., Akkaya, Y., Akalin, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2012
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Bacterial infections; Bartonella henselae; Bartonella henselae - immunology; Bartonella henselae - isolation & purification; Bartonella Infections - epidemiology; Bartonella Infections - microbiology; Breeding of animals; Cattle; cattle breeder; Demography; Female; Humans; Male; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - microbiology; Occupational Exposure; Risk Factors; rural area; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey - epidemiology; veterinarian; Veterinarians; Veterinarians - statistics & numerical data; Turkey
• ISSN: 1863-1959; 1863-2378
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2012.01486.x

Summary
Bartonella henselae infections are usually detected among people who have close contact with animals. Veterinarians and cattle breeders, in particular, are considered as the risk groups for B. henselae infections. In this study, the seroprevalence of antibodies to B. henselae was investigated in these two groups of subjects in the two cities of Aydin and Denizli, which are located in the same region in the southwest of Turkey. Total antibodies to B. henselae were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum samples taken from 63 cattle breeders and 27 veterinarians. Twenty samples (22.2%) were found to react on 1/64 titre with B. henselae antigens. Bartonella henselae seroprevalence was found to be significantly related to age (P = 0.033) and higher in those living in Aydin (P = 0.047). Age was the only independent factor in multivariate analysis (P = 0.008). Seroprevalence was found to be 2‐fold higher in those people who had had tick contact (P = 0.093). In conclusion, the physicians in the region should consider B. henselae infection among veterinarians and breeders in their differential diagnosis list of fever of unknown origin.