TY - JOUR AU - Haack, Jason P. AU - Jelacic, Srdjan AU - Besser, Thomas E. AU - Weinberger, Edward AU - Kirk, Donald J. AU - McKee, Garry L. AU - Harrison, Shannon M. AU - Musgrave, Karl J. AU - Miller, Gayle AU - Price, Thomas H. AU - Tarr, Phillip I. T1 - Escherichia coli O157 Exposure in Wyoming and Seattle: Serologic Evidence of Rural Risk T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2003 VL - 9 IS - 10 SP - 1227 SN - 1080-6059 AB - We tested the hypothesis that rural populations have increased exposure to Escherichia coli O157:H7. We measured circulating antibodies against the O157 lipopolysaccharide in rural Wyoming residents and in blood donors from Casper, Wyoming, and Seattle, Washington, by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). EIA readings were compared by analysis of variance and the least squares difference multiple comparison procedure. Rural Wyoming residents had higher antibody levels to O157 LPS than did Casper donors, who, in turn, had higher levels than did Seattle donors (respective least squares means: 0.356, 0.328, and 0.310; p<0.05, Seattle vs. Casper, p<0.001, rural Wyoming vs. either city). Lower age was significantly correlated with EIA scores; gender; and, in rural Wyoming, history of bloody diarrhea, town, duration of residence, and use of nontreated water at home were not significantly correlated. These data suggest that rural populations are more exposed to E. coli O157:H7 than urban populations. KW - United States KW - Wyoming DO - 10.3201/eid0910.020254 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/9/10/02-0254_article ER - End of Reference