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01-06-2020 | Short Communication

Occupationally Acquired Q Fever in Shepherds and Sheep Milk Cheesemakers

Authors: Rita Cruz, Carla Santos, Fernando Esteves, Ana Sofia Ferreira, Carmen Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, Cristina Mega, Carlos Albuquerque, Edite Teixeira-de-Lemos, Ana Cláudia Coelho, Helena Vala, João Rodrigo Mesquita

Published in: EcoHealth | Issue 2/2020

Abstract

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, and transmission to humans is often associated with contact with ovine and caprine livestock. Those exposed to sheep are particularly at high risk of infection. Recent studies show that Q fever is increasing in sheep farms in Portugal raising alerts on spillover to humans. We detected anti-C. burnetii IgG in shepherds and sheep milk cheesemakers (27 [28.1%] in a total of 96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 19.4–38.2%) and in controls (21 [8.1%] in a total of 260; 95% CI 5.1–12.1%), pointing to an increased risk of C. burnetii infection (P = 0.0001), with an odds ratio for anti-C. burnetii of 4.45 (95% CI 2.4–8.4%; P = 0.0001), in individuals with occupational contact with sheep in Portugal.

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Title: Occupationally Acquired Q Fever in Shepherds and Sheep Milk Cheesemakers
Authors: Rita Cruz
Carla Santos
Fernando Esteves
Ana Sofia Ferreira
Carmen Vasconcelos-Nóbrega
Cristina Mega
Carlos Albuquerque
Edite Teixeira-de-Lemos
Ana Cláudia Coelho
Helena Vala
João Rodrigo Mesquita
Publication date: 01-06-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: EcoHealth / Issue 2/2020
Print ISSN: 1612-9202
Electronic ISSN: 1612-9210
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-020-01483-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Occupationally Acquired Q Fever in Shepherds and Sheep Milk Cheesemakers

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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