Fincato Alice, Lucchese Laura, Bellinati Laura, Mazzotta Elisa, Ragolia Silvia, Asa'Ad Shirin, Salata Cristiano, Natale Alda
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, SCT3 Padova, Vicenza e Rovigo, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Department Microbiology, Ospedale Ca' Foncello Treviso, 31100 Treviso, Italy.
Pathogens. 2025 Sep 1;14(9):869. doi: 10.3390/pathogens14090869.
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacterium () . In ruminants, it mainly leads to reproductive disorders. In humans, transmission typically occurs through direct contact with infected animals or inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Although it is a notifiable disease in the European Union for both humans and certain animal species, the actual incidence is likely underestimated due to the non-specific nature of clinical symptoms. Domestic ruminants are considered the main reservoirs of , placing farmers and veterinarians at increased occupational risk of infection.
This study aimed to assess the risk of Q fever infection in northern Italy by comparing the seroprevalence rates between professionally exposed individuals and not professionally exposed people.
A total of 209 serum samples were analysed: 117 from exposed professionals (veterinarians, biologists, agronomists, laboratory technicians) and 92 from professionally unexposed people (control group). Serum samples were tested with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the presence of IgG against . Positive and doubtful samples were further investigated with a commercial immunofluorescence assay for detection of IgM and IgG. Epidemiological data were also collected to explore potential risk factors.
In total, 10 of the 117 exposed individuals tested positive, yielding a seroprevalence of 8.6%, while only 1 of the 92 control subjects tested positive (1.1%). These findings indicate a significantly higher occupational risk of infection among exposed professionals compared to the general population.
The results highlight the need for preventive measures and surveillance in at-risk occupational groups.
Q热是一种由细胞内细菌（柯克斯体）引起的人畜共患病。在反刍动物中，它主要导致生殖障碍。在人类中，传播通常通过直接接触受感染动物或吸入受污染的气溶胶发生。尽管在欧盟，人类和某些动物物种的Q热都是应报告的疾病，但由于临床症状的非特异性，实际发病率可能被低估。家养反刍动物被认为是柯克斯体的主要宿主，这使农民和兽医面临更高的职业感染风险。
本研究旨在通过比较职业暴露个体和非职业暴露人群的血清阳性率，评估意大利北部Q热感染的风险。
共分析了209份血清样本：117份来自暴露的专业人员（兽医、生物学家、农学家、实验室技术员），92份来自非职业暴露人群（对照组）。用商业酶联免疫吸附测定法检测血清样本中抗柯克斯体IgG的存在。对阳性和可疑样本进一步用商业免疫荧光测定法检测IgM和IgG。还收集了流行病学数据以探索潜在的风险因素。
在117名暴露个体中，共有10人检测呈阳性，血清阳性率为8.6%，而92名对照受试者中只有1人检测呈阳性（1.1%）。这些结果表明，与普通人群相比，暴露的专业人员感染柯克斯体的职业风险显著更高。
结果强调了对高危职业群体采取预防措施和进行监测的必要性。
