Brucella Seroprevalence in a High-Risk Population in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Study

Table 1

Serology results in high- and low-risk populations.

	Livestock farmers	Students	p value
Age	57.7 (54.31 – 60.97)	19.5 (19.52 – 19.58)	<0.001
Sex	51% male	5.9% male	<0.001
Rose Bengal Test	18% (18/100)	0% (0/34)	0.007
Wright abortus STA	2% (2/100)	2.9% (1/34)	0.588
Wright melitensis STA	8% (8/100)	2.9% (1/34)	0.448
ELISA abortus IgM
Mean	4.33 U/ml (2.37 – 6.28)	20.23 (13.78 – 26.70)	<0.001
Positive	0% (0/100)	5.9% (2/34)^1	0.063
ELISA abortus IgG
Mean	7.96 U/ml (3.11 – 12.8)	4.06 U/ml (0.52 – 7.59)	0.367
Positive	8% (8/100)	2.9% (1/34)^1	0.448
Rose Bengal and ELISA IgG positive	3% (3/100)	0% (0/34)	0.571

Data are presented as mean (95% CI) for continuous variables and as % percentages (frequencies) of positive results in categorical. STA tests were positive at 1/80 dilutions. Some of the livestock farmers with positive RB test had positive STA tests (most for melitensis and the rest for abortus). ELISA IgG tests were considered positive at values >40 U/ml and IgM at >50 U/ml.
¹These results were considered random error due to lack of any symptoms of disease on the day of blood sampling and on a follow-up 2 weeks later.