Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - February 2012 - Volume 140, Issue 02  

Other Gastroenteritis

Environmental characteristics associated with campylobacteriosis: accounting for the effect of age and season

J. ARSENAULTa1a2 c1, P. MICHELa2a3, O. BERKEa4, A. RAVELa2a3 and P. GOSSELINa2a5

a1 Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

a2 Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

a3 Laboratoire de lutte contre les zoonoses d'origine alimentaire, Agence de la santé publique du Canada, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

a4 Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

a5 Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Beauport, Québec, Canada; Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

SUMMARY

Campylobacteriosis is a leading cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis. An ecological study was undertaken to explore the association between environmental characteristics and incidence of campylobacteriosis in relation to four age groups and two seasonal periods. A multi-level Poisson regression model was used for modelling at the municipal level. High ruminant density was positively associated with incidence of campylobacteriosis, with a reduced effect as people become older. High poultry density and presence of a large poultry slaughterhouse were also associated with higher incidence, but only for people aged 16–34 years. The effect of ruminant density, poultry density, and slaughterhouses were constant across seasonal periods. Other associations were detected with population density and average daily precipitation. Close contacts with farm animals are probably involved in the associations observed. The specificity of age and season on this important disease must be considered in further studies and in the design of preventive measures.

(Accepted March 15 2011)

(Online publication April 14 2011)

Key Words:

Correspondence:

c1 Author for correspondence: J. Arsenault, D.V.M., M.Sc., Ph.D., University of Montreal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada. (Email: Julie.arsenault@umontreal.ca)

Metrics
Related Content