Seroprevalence of Q fever in an endemic area of southern Germany

: In a random study among inhabitants of a village in a region of South Germany in which Q fever is endemic, seroprevalence and the significance of known risk factors for Q fever were investigated. Of the 1150 inhabitants, 948 (older than 14 years, resident in the endemic region for more than six months) were included in the study (target group). Within eight months 715 subjects (total group) were actually tested. The total group did not differ from the target group demographically. There were 136 seropositive persons (19%) with a dominance of males (n = 86). Relatively at risk of seropositivity were: males, aged 14-19 years, women, aged 40-49 years; those resident less than 200 m from the next farmhouse; agricultural workers; those in contact with animal products and farm animals. The known greater risk for males is, as shown in these results, due to the specific agricultural activity of this population group, with increased contact with lamb meat, pigs and chickens.