PREVALENCE OF COXIELLA-BURNETII INFECTIONS AMONG NORTH-DAKOTA SHEEP PRODUCERS

A case of Q fever in a sheep producer was detected by a surveillance s ystem in North Dakota in 1993 when Q fever was not reportable. This is the first officially documented case in the state. To estimate the pr evalence of Coxiella burnetii infection and identify associated risk f actors, we conducted a slurry covering the whole state. A total of 17 cases were identified among 496 sheep producers, their-family members, and hired helpers. The number of sheep raised was a good predictor of C. burnetii infection, Lambing outdoors and frequent physical contact s with sheep during lambing were associated with a higher risk, but pe tting dogs was correlated with a lower risk. We conclude that C. burne tii infection is prevalent among sheep producers in North Dakota, As t he result, Q fever became a reportable disease in North Dakota.