TY - JOUR 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. T1 - Tularemia on Martha’s Vineyard: Seroprevalence and Occupational Risk T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2003 VL - 9 IS - 3 SP - 350 SN - 1080-6059 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. KW - tularemia KW - Francisella tularensis KW - seroepidemiologic studies KW - prevalence KW - antibodies KW - research KW - United States DO - 10.3201/eid0903.020462 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/9/3/02-0462_article ER - End of Reference