RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Q fever: hazard from sheep used in research JF Canadian Medical Association Journal JO CMAJ FD Canadian Medical Association SP 1013 OP 1016 VO 130 IS 8 A1 A. E. Simor A1 J. L. Brunton A1 I. E. Salit A1 H. Vellend A1 L. Ford-Jones A1 L. P. Spence YR 1984 UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/130/8/1013.abstract AB The recent recognition that Q fever is endemic in Ontario and the known occupational risk of Q fever to research personnel working with sheep prompted a study to determine the prevalence of antibodies to the causative organism, Coxiella burnetti, in animals and staff at a Toronto animal research institute. Of 37 sheep 34 (92%) were found to be seropositive--that is, to have a titre of complement-fixing antibody to the phase II antigen of 1:8 or greater. Of 331 staff members tested, 18% were found to be seropositive, compared with 0.6% of a random sample of Toronto blood donors. The highest rate of seropositivity, 68%, was in the 28 animal attendants tested. Seropositivity was associated with working with sheep or fetal lamb tissue (p less than 0.0001) and with visiting the animal facility (p less than 0.001). Of the 59 seropositive staff members 63% had had no direct contact with sheep. There were 12 clinically apparent cases of Q fever, 2 of which required admission to hospital. Q fever remains a serious occupational hazard to staff working in research laboratories using sheep, even to those with indirect exposure to infected animals.