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Volume 20, Number 3—March 2014
Research

Coxiella burnetii Seroprevalence and Risk for Humans on Dairy Cattle Farms, the Netherlands, 2010–2011

B. Schimmer1Comments to Author , N. Schotten1, E. van Engelen, J.L.A. Hautvast, P.M. Schneeberger, and Y.T.H.P. van Duijnhoven
Author affiliations: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands (B. Schimmer, N. Schotten, Y.T.H.P. van Duynhoven); Animal Health Service, Deventer, the Netherlands (E. van Engelen); Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (J.L.A. Hautvast); Jeroen Bosch Hospital, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (P.M. Schneeberger)

Main Article

Table 3,

AppendixUnivariate logistic model of participant-based characteristics associated with Coxiella burnetii seropositivity among dairy cattle farm residents, the Netherlands, September 2010– March 2011*

Variable No. residents (% positive) OR (95% CI)
Sex
M 431 (85.4) 4.9 (3.5–6.9)
F
323 (54.5)
Reference
Age, y†
<35 169 (63.3) Reference
35–44 176 (74.4) 1.7 (1.1–2.7)
45–54 252 (73.4) 1.6 (1.1–2.4)
>55
132 (80.3)
2.4 (1.4–4.0)
Role
Farmer 361 (87.3) 5.7 (3.8–8.6)
Spouse 222 (54.5) Reference
Child <18 y 52 (44.2) 0.7 (0.4–1.2)
Child >18 y 54 (74.1) 2.4 (1.2–4.6)
Other‡
40 (75.0)
2.5 (1.2–5.4)
Presence in stable
Every day 584 (78.3) 8.4 (2.1–32.9)
Every week 117 (51.3) 2.5 (0.6–10.0)
Every month 18 (50.0) 2.3 (0.5–12.0)
<1 time/month
10 (30.0)
Reference
Work on the farm†
No 42 (31.0) Reference
Part time (1–39 h/wk) 333 (60.7) 3.3 (1.7–6.6)
Full time (>40 h/wk)
354 (88.7)
17.5 (8.4–36.4)
Care for calves
Yes 501 (78.4) 2.5 (1.8–3.5)
No
228 (59.6)
Reference
Milk cows
Yes 442 (84.4) 4.5 (3.2–6.4)
No
287 (54.4)
Reference
Feed cattle
Yes 515 (81.6) 4.3 (3.0–6.0)
No
214 (50.9)
Reference
Transport cattle
Yes 414 (85.0) 4.4 (3.1–6.3)
No
315 (56.2)
Reference
Provide health care for cattle
Yes 440 (83.0) 3.7 (2.7–5.3)
No
288 (56.6)
Reference
Provide birth care for cattle
Yes 516 (80.8) 3.8 (2.7–5.4)
No
212 (52.4)
Reference
Remove manure
Yes 478 (83.3) 4.6 (3.2–6.4)
No
251 (52.2)
Reference
Spread manure
Yes 254 (86.6) 3.5 (2.3–5.2)
No
474 (65.2)
Reference
Clean stables
Yes 505 (80.2) 3.3 (2.3–4.6)
No
222 (55.4)
Reference
No. of tasks (0–9) performed on farm†§
725 (72.7)
1.3 (1.2–1.4)
Wear overalls†
Almost every time/regularly 584 (76.7) 2.5 (1.7–3.6)
Sometimes/never
142 (57.0)
Reference
Wear boots†
Almost every time/regularly 646 (74.6) 2.1 (1.3–3.4)
Sometimes/never
81 (58.0)
Reference
Use gloves during cattle birth care†
Fully compliant 61 (70.5) 0.5 (0.3–0.9)
Partly or noncompliant 456 (82.2) Reference
No birth care
211 (52.4)
0.2 (0.2–0.3)
Use disinfectant during cattle birth care
Fully compliant 141 (82.3) 1.1 (0.7–1.9)
Partly or noncompliant 374 (80.5) Reference
No birth care
212 (53.3)
0.3 (0.2–0.4)
Have contact with pigs at own or other farm†¶
Yes 83 (85.5) 2.4 (1.3–4.6)
No
646 (70.9)
Reference
Have contact with sheep at own or other farm†¶
Yes 232 (75.9) 1.3 (0.9–1.8)
No
497 (71.0)
Reference
Have contact with poultry at own farm†¶
Yes 177 (67.8) 0.8 (0.5–1.1)
No
578 (73.4)
Reference
Have indirect contact with rats/mice at own farm†#
Yes 213 (82.6) 2.2 (1.5–3.3)
No
516 (68.4)
Reference
Have contact with dogs at own farm**
Yes 538 (71.0) 0.7 (0.5–1.1)
No
190 (76.8)
Reference
Have contact with dogs at other farm†**
Yes 273 (75.8) 1.3 (0.9–1.8)
No
456 (70.6)
Reference
Have contact with cows at other farm†**
Yes 195 (82.6) 2.2(1.4–3.3)
No
532 (68.8)
Reference
Have indirect contact with cows at other farm#
Yes 326 (77.6) 1.6 (1.1–2.3)
No
400 (68.3)
Reference
Have contact with compost†
Yes 139 (66.2) 0.7 (0.5–1.0)
No
590 (74.1)
Reference
Have contact with hay†
Daily (almost) 505 (80.2) 3.3 (2.3–4.6)
Weekly or less often
222 (55.4)
Reference
Have contact with cattle food†
Daily (almost) 530 (80.9) 4.2 (3.0–6.0)
Weekly or less often
199 (50.3)
Reference
Have contact with raw milk†
Daily (almost) 507 (78.9) 2.7 (1.9–3.8)
Weekly or less often
221 (57.9)
Reference
Have contact with sheep or goat manure†
Yes 96 (80.2) 1.6 (1.0–2.8)
No
632 (71.4)
Reference
Have contact with cattle manure†
Daily (almost) 477 (83.0) 4.4 (3.1–6.2)
Weekly or less often
252 (52.8)
Reference
Have contact with live–born animals
Yes 626 (76.7) 3.7 (2.4–5.7)
No
102 (47.1)
Reference
Have contact with stillborn animals
Yes 304 (83.9) 2.9 (2.0–4.1)
No
424 (64.5)
Reference
Have contact with placenta material or amniotic fluid†
Yes 425 (84.2) 4.2 (2.9–5.9)
No
304 (56.3)
Reference
Consume Brie cheese†
Yes 166 (63.9) 0.6 (0.4–0.9)
No
563 (75.1)
Reference
Lived on a farm with animals during childhood†
Yes 604 (76.4) 2.8 (1. 9–4.2)
No 125 (53.6) Reference

*Analysis was performed to assess the main participant-based characteristics associated with positivity (p<0.20 in likelihood ratio test). OR, odds ratio.
†Variables included in later multivariate analysis before manual backward elimination.
‡Represents other family members and employees.
§No. tasks (i.e., caring for calves, milking, feeding cattle, transport of cattle, general cattle health, assistance during calving, removing manure, spreading manure and cleaning the stables) performed on the farm by 1 person (0–9 tasks). Risk increases per task.
¶See animals at <5 meters or touch animals (contact).
#See animals at <5 meters (indirect contact).
**Touch animals (direct contact).

Main Article

1These authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: February 19, 2014
Page updated: February 19, 2014
Page reviewed: February 19, 2014
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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