TY - JOUR
T1 - Tularemia on martha's vineyard
T2 - Seroprevalence and occupational risk
AU - Feldman, Katherine A.
AU - Stiles-Enos, Donna
AU - Julian, Kathleen
AU - Matyas, Bela T.
AU - Telford, Sam R.
AU - Chu, May C.
AU - Petersen, Lyle R.
AU - Hayes, Edward B.
PY - 2003/3/1
Y1 - 2003/3/1
N2 - We conducted a serosurvey of landscapers to determine if they were at increased risk for exposure to Francisella tularensis and to determine risk factors for infection. In Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, landscapers (n=132) were tested for anti-F. tularensis antibody and completed a questionnaire. For comparison, serum samples from three groups of nonlandscaper Martha's Vineyard residents (n=103, 99, and 108) were tested. Twelve landscapers (9.1%) were seropositive, compared with one person total from the comparison groups (prevalence ratio 9.0; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 68.1; p=0.02). Of landscapers who used a power blower, 15% were seropositive, compared to 2% who did not use a power blower (prevalence ratio 9.2; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 69.0; p=0.02). Seropositive landscapers worked more hours per week mowing and weed-whacking and mowed more lawns per week than their seronegative counterparts. Health-care workers in tularemia-endemic areas should consider tularemia as a diagnosis for landscapers with a febrile illness.
AB - We conducted a serosurvey of landscapers to determine if they were at increased risk for exposure to Francisella tularensis and to determine risk factors for infection. In Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, landscapers (n=132) were tested for anti-F. tularensis antibody and completed a questionnaire. For comparison, serum samples from three groups of nonlandscaper Martha's Vineyard residents (n=103, 99, and 108) were tested. Twelve landscapers (9.1%) were seropositive, compared with one person total from the comparison groups (prevalence ratio 9.0; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 68.1; p=0.02). Of landscapers who used a power blower, 15% were seropositive, compared to 2% who did not use a power blower (prevalence ratio 9.2; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 69.0; p=0.02). Seropositive landscapers worked more hours per week mowing and weed-whacking and mowed more lawns per week than their seronegative counterparts. Health-care workers in tularemia-endemic areas should consider tularemia as a diagnosis for landscapers with a febrile illness.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0344406119&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3201/eid0903.020462
DO - 10.3201/eid0903.020462
M3 - Article
C2 - 12643831
AN - SCOPUS:0344406119
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 9
SP - 350
EP - 354
JO - Emerging infectious diseases
JF - Emerging infectious diseases
IS - 3
ER -