Seroepidemiologic evidence of Q fever and associated factors among workers in veterinary service laboratory in South Korea

Dilaram Acharya; Ji-Hyuk Park; Jeong-Hoon Chun; Mi Yeon Kim; Seok-Ju Yoo; Antoine Lewin; Kwan Lee

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010054

Seroepidemiologic evidence of Q fever and associated factors among workers in veterinary service laboratory in South Korea

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Feb 2;16(2):e0010054. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010054. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Authors

Dilaram Acharya^{1

2

3}, Ji-Hyuk Park¹, Jeong-Hoon Chun⁴, Mi Yeon Kim⁴, Seok-Ju Yoo¹, Antoine Lewin^{3

5}, Kwan Lee¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea.
² School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
³ Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
⁴ Division of Bacterial Disease, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

The incidence of Q fever has rapidly increased in South Korea since 2015. This study was undertaken to investigate the seroprevalence and seroreactivity of Q fever and the risk factors associated with its seroprevalence among workers in the veterinary service laboratory (VSL) in South Korea. This seroepidemiologic study was conducted in a total of 661 human subjects out of 1,328 subjects working in 50 VSL existing in South Korea between July 15 and July 29, 2019. Data were collected by administering survey questionnaires and by analyzing collected blood samples to determine the presence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. The seroprevalence and seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection were determined based on serum titers as (phase II IgG ≥1:256 and/or IgM ≥1:16) and (phase II IgG ≥1:16 and/or IgM ≥1:16) as determined by indirect immunofluorescent assay. Work, work environment, behavioral risk and protective factors associated with seroprevalence of Q fever were assessed by employing multivariable logistic regression analysis. Among the 661, the seroprevalence and seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection were 7.9% and 16.0%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the risk factors significantly associated with seroprevalence were the antemortem inspection of cattle, goats, or sheep (APR (adjusted prevalence ratio), 2.52; 95% CI, 1.23-4.70)), animal blood splashed into or around eyes (APR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.04-4.41), and contact with animals having Q fever (APR, 6.58; 95% CI, 3.39-10.85) during the previous year. This study suggests the need for precautions when contact with cattle, goats, or sheep is expected, especially during the antemortem inspection, when dealing with C. burnetii infected animals, or when there is a risk of ocular contact with animal derivatives. Therefore, we recommend the consistent use of appropriate personal protective equipment and other protective measures including PPE treatment and washing of body surfaces after work to prevent C. burnetii infections among VSL staff in South Korea.

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
Coxiella burnetii
Humans
Laboratories
Occupational Exposure
Q Fever / blood*
Q Fever / epidemiology*
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Veterinary Medicine*

Substances

Antibodies, Bacterial

Grants and funding

This research was supported by a grant (financial assistance) from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Grant no. 20190302D82-00) and the financial assistance was received by JHP. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.