RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Screening for Q fever
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1195
OP 1199
DO 10.15537/smj.2018.12.23695
VO 39
IS 12
A1 Abdulkarim F. Alhetheel
A1 Khalifa Binkhamis
A1 Ali Somily
A1 Mazin Barry
A1 Zahid Shakoor
YR 2018
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/39/12/1195.abstract
AB 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.