Human seroprevalence to Coxiella bumetii (Q fever) in Northern Ireland

Conall McCaughey, J. McKenna, C. McKenna, Peter Coyle, H.J. O'Neill, D.E. Wyatt, B. Smyth, Liam Murray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite the widespread prevalence of infection with Coxiella burnetii, there have been few large population-based studies examining the epidemiology of this infection. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution and determinants of C. burnetii past infection in Northern Ireland (NI). Coxiella burnetii phase II specific IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in stored serum from 2394 randomly selected subjects, aged 12-64, who had participated in population-based surveys of cardiovascular risk factors performed in 1986 and 1987. The overall prevalence of C. burnetii antibody positivity was 12.8%. The prevalence of sero-positivity was slightly higher in males than that in females (14.3% versus 11.2%, P = 0.02). Sero-positivity was low in children (
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189-194
Number of pages6
JournalZoonoses Public Health
Volume55
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • veterinary(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Human seroprevalence to Coxiella bumetii (Q fever) in Northern Ireland'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this