Objectives: To estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii among pregnant women and to assess the effect of Q fever on pregnancy outcome.
Study design: Anonymous seroprevalence survey between March and May 1996 in all gynecological and obstetrical medical departments of South Eastern France. Women were included irrespective of pregnancy outcome (N=12,716, response rate=96.1%).
Results: The seroprevalence rate was 0.15% with a global prevalence and a prevalence of recent or chronic infections, respectively, two and three times higher among women who had a spontaneous abortion than among those who delivered although the differences were not statistically significant. The highest proportion of preterm births (6.8%) was found in high prevalence areas (0.57%).
Conclusion: The seroprevalence was higher than expected but data were not sufficient to confirm the suspected negative impact of Q fever on pregnancy outcome.