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Seroprevalence of brucella antibodies among persons in high-risk occupation in Lebanon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

G. F. Araj  and
R. A. Azzam
G. F. Araj*
Affiliation:
Department of Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 113-6044, Beirut, Lebanon
R. A. Azzam
Affiliation:
Ministrty of Public Health, Office of Director General, Beirut – Lebanon
*
* Correspondence and requests for reprints.
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Prevalence of brucella-specific antibodies was measured in 597 persons in high-risk occupations living in 10 regions of Lebanon using the standard agglutination test (SAT), anti-human globulin (Coombs') test (AHGT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM and IgA. The study population consisted of butchers (54%) farmers (35%), laboratory technicians (8%), abbatoir workers (2%) and veterinarians (1%), with 82% males and 18% females. The overall seroprevalence based on SAT and AHGT titres of ≥ 80 was 1·7% and 15%, respectively, but seroprevalence varied by region from 0–5% in SAT and from 3·4–34% for AHGT. The overall seroprevalence based on ELISA IgG (OD≥0·6), IgM (OD≥0·6) and IgA (OD≥0·3) was 57, 61 and 26%, respectively. The highest seroprevalence was noted in Biqaa (34%), Kisrwan (24%), Shouf (21%), Sidon (16%) and Aley (12) regions. Nineteen percent of those surveyed reported symptoms that could be associated with brucellosis. We conclude that exposure to brucellosis is high among persons in high-risk occupations from all surveyed regions in Lebanon. Such findings should be used to design control measures especially now that the 17 years of civil strife is over.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 117 , Issue 2 , October 1996 , pp. 281 - 288
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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