BACKGROUND Q fever is a febrile illness caused by infection with the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. It is most often transmitted by inhalation of the bacteria after it is shed by infected livestock. Recent studies have found very high C. burnetii infection rates among marine mammals, but it is not known if shedding by marine mammals creates a risk of Q fever among humans. To better understand infection of humans with exposure to marine mammals, the prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii in serum samples taken from Alaskan Native persons residing on the Pribilof Islands was evaluated. The Pribilof Islands support large populations of northern fur seals infected with C. burnetii that may increase the risk of exposure for island residents. METHODS Serum testing for IgG antibodies against C. burnetii (phase I and phase II) was performed, and demographic data were analysed utilizing banked serum specimens drawn from island residents from 1980 to 2000. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence rate was 11.6% (95% CI = 9.3%-14.4%; 72/621). This is higher than the previously reported 3.1% (95% CI = 2.1%-4.3%) seroprevalence for the U.S. POPULATION CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that Alaskan Native persons may be at higher risk for exposure to C. burnetii than the general US. population, possibly due to proximity to large populations of infected marine mammals.

中文翻译：

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来自普里比洛夫群岛的阿拉斯加原住民中伯内特立克斯体血清抗体的流行情况。


背景技术Q热是由伯氏柯克斯体细菌感染引起的发热性疾病。它最常通过吸入受感染牲畜排出的细菌而传播。最近的研究发现，海洋哺乳动物中的伯氏梭菌感染率非常高，但尚不清楚海洋哺乳动物的排毒是否会导致人类出现 Q 热风险。为了更好地了解人类因接触海洋哺乳动物而受到的感染，对居住在普里比洛夫群岛的阿拉斯加原住民血清样本中伯内特念珠菌抗体的流行情况进行了评估。普里比洛夫群岛饲养着大量感染伯内氏隐球菌的北方海狗，这可能会增加岛上居民的感染风险。方法 对伯内特念珠菌 IgG 抗体进行血清检测（I 期和 II 期），并利用 1980 年至 2000 年从岛上居民采集的库存血清样本分析人口统计数据。 结果 总体血清阳性率为 11.6%（95% CI） = 9.3%-14.4%；72/621)。这高于之前报道的美国人群血清阳性率 3.1% (95% CI = 2.1%-4.3%)。 结论 这些结果表明，阿拉斯加原住民接触伯内特念珠菌的风险可能高于普通美国人。人口，可能是由于靠近大量受感染的海洋哺乳动物。