Received 19 September
2002; accepted 13 December 2002; electronically published 9 April 2003.
Serumsamples were obtained from215
farm-resident children and396 nonfarm-resident
children livingin a defined ruralWisconsin
population. Antibodies toCampylobacter jejuni and
Escherichia coli O157:H7lipopolysaccharide (O157
LPS) immunoglobulinG were measured, andthe
incidence of clinicvisits for diarrheal illnesswas determined. Risk factorswere assessed in atelephone interview. There were363 children (59%)
withC. jejuni antibodies (seropositive for2 immunoglobulin classes) and86 (14%) with O157LPS antibodies. Increasing ageand farm residence wereindependently associated
with C. jejuniseropositivity by multivariate
analysis.O157 LPS antibodies were
independently associated with increasingage, female sex,
manurecontact, and sheep contact.The
incidence of clinicallyrecognized diarrhea was similaramong children with andwithout antibodies to C.
jejuniand O157 LPS, butthe clinic visit
ratefor diarrhea was 46%lower among
farm-resident children.These results are consistentwith reduced occurrence ofclinical illness from
repeatedantigenic stimulation in afarm
environment.
The study protocolwas approved by theMarshfield Clinic Institutional ReviewBoard. Written informed
consentwas obtained from theparents of all participatingchildren, and assent wasobtained from all children7 years old. Participatingparents received $20
compensationand a free hemoglobintest for their child.
Financialsupport: National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health(cooperative agreement
U07/CCU507126-06).
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MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
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