AVA Conference Adelaide 2016

Over 300 vets (n=341) have participated in a longevity of immunity study. Serology was collected at national Veterinary conference and vet faculties at Sydney and Charles Sturt University. Demographic details, exposure history, vaccination status, and results of pre-vaccination screening (confirmed with the provider who administered the vaccine or via university health records) were collected for each individual enrolled in the study. Q fever serology was performed by the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Victoria using standard immunofluorescence methods (phase 1 and 2 IgG, IgM) to measure a wider variety of antibody responses compared to CFT and allow correlation with accurate vaccine history. 208 vets reported a history of Q fever vaccine and most (87-90%) were seronegative to phase 1 IgG and IgM. Cell mediated immunity (CMI) results are pending. Despite negative serology it is expected that immunity to Q fever remains given the known effectiveness of Q fever vaccine and likely role of CMI in protection