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. 2018 Dec;39(12):1195-1199.
doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.12.23695.

Screening for Q fever. A tertiary care hospital-based experience in central Saudi Arabia

Abdulkarim F Alhetheel  1 , Khalifa Binkhamis, Ali Somily, Mazin Barry, Zahid Shakoor
Affiliations

Screening for Q fever. A tertiary care hospital-based experience in central Saudi Arabia

Abdulkarim F Alhetheel et al. Saudi Med J. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of Coxiella burnetii (C. brunetii) infection among patients presenting with fever of unknown origin (FUO).

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 patients (54 men and 46 women; mean age: 34.3 ± 19.2 years) with FUO was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between March 2015 and June 2016. Phase 1 and phase 2 C. burnetii-specific antibodies in serum samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Coxiella burnetii phase 1 and phase 2 antibodies were detected in 16% of the patients. Phase 2 IgM was present in 2% of the patients, whereas phase 2 IgG antibodies were detected in 11% of the patients. Coxiella burnetii-specific phase 1 IgG was found in 2% of the patients, and 8% of the patients harbored phase 1 IgA antibodies in their serum.

Conclusion: The presence of C. burnetii-specific antibodies in many patients suffering from FUO highlights the importance of Q fever screening among patients presenting with febrile illness.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Coxiella burnetii-specific phase 2 IgG and IgM antibodies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Coxiella burnetii-specific phase 1 IgG and IgM antibodies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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