Showing papers by "William L. Nicholson published in 2009"

Seroprevalence of Q fever in the United States, 2003-2004.

Abstract: We performed serum testing for IgG antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (phase I and phase II) and analyzed questionnaire data from 4,437 adults > or = 20 years of age who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 survey cycle. National Q fever seroprevalence was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by using immunofluorescent antibody testing. Overall seroprevalence for Coxiella burnetii was 3.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-4.3%) among 4,437 adults > or = 20 years of age. Coxiella burnetii age-adjusted antibody prevalence was higher for men than for women (3.8%, 95% CI = 2.7-5.2% versus 2.5%, 95% CI = 1.5-3.7%, respectively, P < 0.05). Mexican Americans had a significantly higher antibody prevalence (7.4%, 95% CI = 6.6-8.3%) than either non-Hispanic whites (2.8%, 95% CI = 1.7-4.3%) or non-Hispanic blacks (1.3%, 95% CI = 0.6-2.5%) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk for Q fever antibody positivity increased with age and was higher among persons who were foreign-born, male, and living in poverty. These findings indicate that the national seroprevalence of Q fever in the United States is higher than expected on the basis of case numbers reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from state health departments. Potential differences in risk for exposure by race/ethnicity warrant further study.

Outbreak of Rickettsia typhi infection - Austin, Texas, 2008.

Abstract: Murine typhus is a fleaborne rickettsial disease caused by the organism Rickettsia typhi. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, vomiting, nausea, myalgia, and rash. Although murine typhus is endemic in southern Texas, only two cases had been reported during the past 10 years from Austin, located in central Texas. On August 8, 2008, the Austin/Travis County Department of Health and Human Services (ATCDHHS) contacted the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) concerning a cluster of 14 illnesses with serologic findings indicative of murine typhus. On August 12, 2008, TDSHS initiated an investigation with assistance from CDC to characterize the magnitude of the outbreak and assess potential animal reservoirs and peridomestic factors that might have contributed to disease. This report summarizes the clinical and environmental findings of that investigation. Thirty-three confirmed cases involved illness comparable to that associated with previous outbreaks of murine typhus. Illness ranged from mild to severe, with 73% of patients requiring hospitalization. Delayed diagnosis and administration of no or inappropriate antibiotics might have contributed to illness severity. Environmental investigation suggested that opossums and domestic animals likely played a role in the maintenance and spread of R. typhi; however, their precise role in the outbreak has not been determined. These findings underscore the need to increase awareness of murine typhus and communicate appropriate treatment and prevention measures through the distribution of typhus alerts before and throughout the peak vector season of March-November.