@article{PAR00013496,
  title = {{S}ewage workers with low antibody responses may be colonized successively by several {T}ropheryma whipplei strains},
  author = {{F}enollar, {F}. and {M}arth, {T}. and {L}agier, {J}. {C}. and {A}ngelakis, {E}. and {R}aoult, {D}idier},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjectives: {A}symptomatic faecal carriage of {T}ropheryma whipplei, the agent of {W}hipple's disease, is reported among sewage workers. {H}owever, the potential development of such carriage is unknown. {A} 7-year follow-up of {T}. whipplei-carrying sewage workers is reported. {M}ethods: {N}ineteen sewage workers previously detected as faecal carriers of {T}. whipplei were followed to ascertain the chronicity of their carriage. {F}aeces were tested by molecular assays using quantitative real-time {PCR} specifically targeting {T}. whipplei. {S}erological anti-{T}. whipplei {W}estern blotting was also performed. {R}esults: {S}eventy-nine percent (15/19) of workers exhibited a strong immune response against {T}. whipplei. {A}mong these, five were followed for more than 1 year. {F}our maintained a strong response, with three carrying the same strain and one becoming negative. {T}he fifth exhibited a decreased immune response, a negative faeces result, and subsequent carriage of another strain. {T}hree individuals with low immune responses were also followed. {T}wo never developed a response, with one carrying the same strain and one becoming negative and then positive with another strain; the third developed a strong response and became negative. {C}onclusions: {C}hronic {T}. whipplei carriers appear to be protected against reinfection, but those with low or decreasing antibody levels may be re-colonized by another strain.},
  keywords = {{T}ropheryma whipplei ; {S}ewage workers ; {A}symptomatic carriage ; {W}hipple's ; disease ; {FRANCE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal of {I}nfectious {D}iseases},
  volume = {35},
  numero = {},
  pages = {51--55},
  ISSN = {1201-9712},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ijid.2015.04.009},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00013496},
}