Korean J Infect Dis.  1998 Apr;30(2):165-172.

Seroepidemiologic Study of Brucellosis in Cheju Island

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
  • 2Department of Clinical Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
  • 3Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
  • 4Department of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by the gram-negative coccobacilli Brucella. Humans are infected by ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products from or by direct contact with infected animals. Although human brucellosis is known to be rare, there has been an increase in bovine brucellosis in Cheju island since the 1980s. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti- Brucella antibody in people from endemic areas.
METHODS
Sera obtained from 2,372 residents in Cheju island were screened for anti-Brucella antibody by slide agglutination test and confirmed by duplicated tube agglutination test. Sera with titers equal to or above 1:80 were considered positive.
RESULTS
Fourteen of 2,372 sera were positive (0.59%). Positive rate was 0.34% in males and 0.82% in females. There was no significant difference in the positive rates between males and females. Seropositive rate was slightly higher in persons at 40 years or older. Seropositive rates in different areas of Cheju island were as follows : South Cheju-gun 0.97%, North Cheju-gun 0.64%, Cheju city 0.46%, and Sogwipo city 0.0%. The antibody titers of positive sera were determined: 7 sera were positive at 1:80, 4 at 1:160, and 3 were positive at 1:320. Occupations of seropositive persons were as follows : 7 farmers; 3 stockbreeders; 1 engaged in service trade; 1 engaged in food processing; 1 working at a stable; one unknown. Seropositive rates among people at a relatively high risk were 0.94%. Seropositive rate of people who were proven to be not at risk for Brucella infection was 0.51%. There was no significant difference in the seropositive rates between the two groups(P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
These findings confirmed the occurrence of human Brucella infection in Cheju island and suggest the need for surveillance in other parts of the country as well.

Keyword

brucellosis; seroepidemiology; agglutination test

MeSH Terms

Agglutination Tests
Animals
Brucella
Brucellosis*
Brucellosis, Bovine
Cattle
Dairy Products
Eating
Female
Food Handling
Humans
Jeju-do*
Male
Milk
Occupations
Prevalence
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
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