Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024
Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Group | Positive Cases Absolute Frequency (n) | Positive Cases Relative Frequency (%) | Negative Cases Absolute Frequency (n) | Negative Cases Relative Frequency (%) | Total (n) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test Group | 31 | 33.70% | 61 | 66.30% | 92 |
Control Group | 32 | 17.39% | 152 | 82.61% | 184 |
Total | 276 |
Variable | OR (95% CI) | p Value | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | p Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Age Group | - | |||
20–29 Years | 1.00 (Ref) | - | 1.00 (Ref) | |
30–39 Years | 1.20 (0.45–3.20) | 0.72 | 1.10 (0.40–3.00) | 0.86 |
40–49 Years | 1.10 (0.40–3.00) | 0.85 | 0.95 (0.30–3.00) | 0.93 |
50–59 Years | 0.90 (0.30–2.70) | 0.86 | 0.80 (0.25–2.60) | 0.71 |
≥60 Years | 1.50 (0.50–4.50) | 0.47 | 1.30 (0.40–4.20) | 0.66 |
Gender (Male vs. Female) | 1.12 (0.52–2.41) | 0.72 | 1.08 (0.45–2.60) | 0.86 |
Geographic Area (Norte vs. Others) | 2.30 (1.10–4.80) | 0.03 | 2.10 (0.95–4.65) | 0.07 |
Years Working Group (Ref: 0–9 Years) | 1.00 (Ref) | - | 1.00 (Ref) | - |
- 10–19 Years | 1.30 (0.60–2.80) | 0.51 | 1.20 (0.50–2.90) | 0.68 |
- 20–29 Years | 1.10 (0.50–2.40) | 0.83 | 1.00 (0.40–2.50) | 0.99 |
- ≥30 Years | 1.60 (0.70–3.70) | 0.28 | 1.40 (0.60–3.30) | 0.45 |
Uses Calcium Oxide (Yes vs. No) | 1.45 (0.84–2.50) | 0.18 | 1.30 (0.70–2.40) | 0.41 |
Isolates Aborting Animals (Yes vs. No) | 0.31 (0.13–0.77) | 0.01 | 0.35 (0.14–0.90) | 0.03 |
Uses Gloves for Sample Collection | 0.24 (0.10–0.63) | 0.003 | 0.28 (0.11–0.73) | 0.009 |
Uses Gloves for Handling Parturitions | 0.56 (0.25–1.25) | 0.15 | 0.60 (0.25–1.45) | 0.26 |
Uses Gloves for CMT | 0.67 (0.30–1.50) | 0.33 | 0.70 (0.30–1.65) | 0.42 |
Includes Q Fever in Differential for Abortion | 0.36 (0.16–0.83) | 0.02 | 0.40 (0.17–0.95) | 0.04 |
Knows Abortion as Clinical Sign of Q Fever | 0.75 (0.34–1.65) | 0.47 | 0.80 (0.35–1.85) | 0.61 |
Knows Q Fever is Spread via Milk or Aerosols | 0.80 (0.36–1.80) | 0.59 | 0.85 (0.35–2.05) | 0.72 |
Knows that Q Fever is Diagnosed via Blood Tests | 0.65 (0.29–1.45) | 0.29 | 0.70 (0.30–1.65) | 0.42 |
Knows that Infected Animals Should Be Isolated | 0.50 (0.22–1.12) | 0.09 | 0.55 (0.22–1.35) | 0.19 |
Knows that Q Fever Has Medical Treatment | 0.70 (0.32–1.55) | 0.38 | 0.75 (0.30–1.85) | 0.53 |
Knows a Producer Diagnosed with Q Fever | 1.10 (0.50–2.40) | 0.81 | 1.20 (0.50–2.90) | 0.68 |
Knows a Colleague Diagnosed with Q Fever | 1.30 (0.60–2.80) | 0.51 | 1.40 (0.60–3.30) | 0.43 |
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Moreira, G.; Ribeiro, M.; Martins, M.; Cardoso, J.M.; Esteves, F.; Anastácio, S.; Duarte, S.; Vala, H.; Cruz, R.; Mesquita, J.R. Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024. Vet. Sci. 2025, 12, 512. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12060512
Moreira G, Ribeiro M, Martins M, Cardoso JM, Esteves F, Anastácio S, Duarte S, Vala H, Cruz R, Mesquita JR. Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024. Veterinary Sciences. 2025; 12(6):512. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12060512
Chicago/Turabian StyleMoreira, Guilherme, Mário Ribeiro, Miguel Martins, José Maria Cardoso, Fernando Esteves, Sofia Anastácio, Sofia Duarte, Helena Vala, Rita Cruz, and João R. Mesquita. 2025. "Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024" Veterinary Sciences 12, no. 6: 512. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12060512
APA StyleMoreira, G., Ribeiro, M., Martins, M., Cardoso, J. M., Esteves, F., Anastácio, S., Duarte, S., Vala, H., Cruz, R., & Mesquita, J. R. (2025). Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024. Veterinary Sciences, 12(6), 512. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12060512