ABSTRACT
Prior to an outbreak in Castilla y León in December 1997, tularaemia was practically non-existent in Spain. In this paper we studied the prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis in a representative sample of the population (4825 people) from Castilla y León (Spain) in samples collected before this outbreak. Antibodies against F. tularensis were detected in nine (0.19%) of the 4825 sera, with antibody titres ranging from 1/20 to 1/160. Of these nine sera, one was positive in seroagglutination against Brucella. Seroagglutination against other bacteria (Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 and O:3 and Proteus OX19) was negative in all sera. Seroprevalence of antibodies in females was 0.20% and 0.17% in males; no statistically significant differences were found in prevalence in terms of sex, age or province.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Francisella tularensis/immunology , Tularemia/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was determine the prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis in the representative sample of people from Castilla-León (Spain) before epidemic outbreak of end 1997. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We obtain 4,825 sera (between april-1996 and april-1997) of people from Castilla-León. All sera were tested by a microagglutination technique to detect antibodies against Francisella tularensis. The positive sera were tested to determine cross-reaction with Brucella, Yersinia enterocolitica and Proteus in the tube agglutination tests. RESULTS: We detected antibodies against Francisella tularensis in 9 (0,19%) of the 4,825 sera. Only one serum from the 9 seropositive was positive in the tube agglutination against Brucella. None of the 9 sera were positive against the remaining bacterial antigen tested. CONCLUSIONS: In the people of Castilla-León before 1997 the prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis was 0,19%.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Francisella tularensis/immunology , Tularemia/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Agglutination Tests , Female , Humans , Male , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Spain/epidemiology , Tularemia/immunologyABSTRACT
FUNDAMENTO Y OBJETIVOS: Este trabajo pretende conocer la prevalencia de infección por Francisella tularensis en la población de Castilla y León previa al brote de tularemia humana de finales de 1997. SUJETOS Y MÉTODO: Se obtuvieron 4.825 sueros (entre abril de 1996 y abril de 1997) de residentes en Castilla y León. Se realizó una prueba de microaglutinación en placa para detectar anticuerpos anti-F. tularensis. En los sueros positivos se llevaron a cabo seroaglutinaciones en tubo frente a Brucella, Yersinia enterocolitica y Proteus. RESULTADOS: Se detectaron anticuerpos anti-F.tularensis en 9 (0,19 per cent) de los 4.825 sueros. De esos 9 sueros, uno fue positivo en la seroaglutinación frente a Brucella, siendo todos negativos frente a las otras bacterias. CONCLUSIONES: Antes de 1997 la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-F. tularensis en la población de Castilla y León era baja (0,19 per cent) (AU)
