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Iran - High prevalence of Q-fever in febrile patients

Gert van der Hoek

Gert van der Hoek

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Jun 1. [Epub ahead of print]

Q fever serology in febrile patients in southeast Iran.

Abstract

There is little information on human Q fever in Iran and other Middle East countries.

The aim of this study was to determine apparent Q fever seropositivity among febrile patients with suspected brucellosis in southeast Iran.

Coxiella burnetii phases I and II specific IgG antibodies were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 75 febrile patients.

Phase I antibodies were detected in 18 subjects (24%) and phase II antibodies in 27 subjects (36%).

This is the first report of human Q fever seropositivity in Iran after 3 decades and demonstrated a high prevalence of C. burnetii exposure in the sampled febrile patients.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20627331
 
Re: Iran - High prevalence of Q-fever in febrile patients

The first serologic study of Q fever in sheep in Iran

Published online: 3 June 2010

Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular microorganism that causes Q fever in humans and animals. In ewes, C. burnetii infections are generally asymptomatic, but they can lead to abortions, stillbirths, and delivery of weak and unviable lambs.

Serological assays are suitable for screening herds. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) technique has a high sensitivity and a good specificity. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-C. burnetii antibodies among sheep in southeast Iran.

A total of 85 serum samples were collected from ten sheep flocks from April to September 2009. Serum samples were tested for Q fever antibodies using a commercial indirect ELISA kit.

Antibodies were detected in 25 sera (29.42%) of 85 samples. Sixteen female (18.82%) and nine male (10.58%) cases had antibodies specific to C. burnetii.

There is significant difference in seropositivity between male and female groups (P < 0.05).

This first study of C. burnetii seroprevalence in sheep in southeast Iran has indicated that seropositive animals can be found throughout the country. Further work is now required to characterize the epidemiology of the infection more thoroughly.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/c65w636264j64230/
 
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