SHORT REPORT: Screening for Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in chronic Q fever high-risk groups reveals the magnitude of the Dutch Q fever outbreak

The Netherlands experienced an unprecedented outbreak of Q fever between 2007 and 2010. The Jeroen Bosch Hospital (JBH) in 's-Hertogenbosch is located in the centre of the epidemic area. Based on Q fever screening programmes, seroprevalence of IgG phase II antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2013-04, Vol.141 (4), p.847-851
Main Authors: KAMPSCHREUR, L. M., HAGENAARS, J. C. J. P., WIELDERS, C. C. H., ELSMAN, P., LESTRADE, P. J., KONING, O. H. J., OOSTERHEERT, J. J., RENDERS, N. H. M., WEVER, P. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Coxiella burnetii
Disease outbreaks
Disease risks
Drainage basins
Epidemics
Infections
Infectious diseases
Q fever
Seroepidemiologic studies
Zoonoses
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Summary:The Netherlands experienced an unprecedented outbreak of Q fever between 2007 and 2010. The Jeroen Bosch Hospital (JBH) in 's-Hertogenbosch is located in the centre of the epidemic area. Based on Q fever screening programmes, seroprevalence of IgG phase II antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in the JBH catchment area was 10·7% [785 tested, 84 seropositive, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8·5—12·9]. Seroprevalence appeared not to be influenced by age, gender or area of residence. Extrapolating these data, an estimated 40 600 persons (95% CI 32 200—48 900) in the JBH catchment area have been infected by C. burnetii and are, therefore, potentially at risk for chronic Q fever. This figure by far exceeds the nationwide number of notified symptomatic acute Q fever patients and illustrates the magnitude of the Dutch Q fever outbreak. Clinicians in epidemic Q fever areas should be alert for chronic Q fever, even if no acute Q fever is reported.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409