scholarly journals Q fever: baseline monitoring of a sheep and a goat flock associated with human infections

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (11) ◽  
pp. 1939-1949 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. EIBACH ◽  
F. BOTHE ◽  
M. RUNGE ◽  
S. F. FISCHER ◽  
W. PHILIPP ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Q Fever ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Sheep Flock ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
Animal Infection ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Goat Flock ◽  
Swabian Alb

SUMMARYAnimal losses due to abortion and weak offspring during a lambing period amounted up to 25% in a goat flock and up to 18% in a sheep flock kept at an experimental station on the Swabian Alb, Germany. Fifteen out of 23 employees and residents on the farm tested positive forCoxiella burnetiiantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Ninety-four per cent of the goats and 47% of the sheep were seropositive forC. burnetiiby ELISA. Blood samples of 8% of goats and 3% of sheep were PCR positive.C. burnetiiwas shed by all tested animals through vaginal mucus, by 97% of the goats and 78% of the sheep through milk, and by all investigated sheep through faeces (PCR testing). In this outbreak human and animal infection were temporally related suggesting that one was caused by the other.

scholarly journals Analysis of recombinant proteins for Q fever diagnostics

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halie K. Miller ◽  
Gilbert J. Kersh
Keyword(s):  
Q Fever ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Assay Sensitivity ◽  
Healthy Donors ◽  
Infected Goat ◽  
The Individual

AbstractSerology is essential for Q fever diagnostics, a disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii. The gold standard test is an immunofluorescence assay utilizing whole cell antigens, which are both dangerous and laborious to produce. Complexities of the antigen coupled with the subjective nature of the assay lead to decreased uniformity of test results and underscore the need for improved methodologies. Thirty-three C. burnetii proteins, previously identified as immunoreactive, were screened for reactivity to naturally infected goat serum. Based on reactivity, 10 proteins were analyzed in a secondary screen against human serum from healthy donors. Assay sensitivity and specificity ranged from 21 to 71% and 90 to 100%, respectively. Three promising antigens were identified based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (CBU_1718, CBU_0307, and CBU_1398). Five multiplex assays failed to outperform the individual proteins, with sensitivities and specificities ranging from 29 to 57% and 90 to 100%, respectively. Truncating the top antigen, CBU_1718, had no effect on specificity (90%); yet sensitivity decreased dramatically (71% to 21%). Through this study, we have expanded the subset of C. burnetii immunoreactive proteins validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and demonstrate the effect of novel antigen combinations and protein truncations on assay performance.

scholarly journals Coxiella burnetii Shedding Routes and Antibody Response after Outbreaks of Q Fever-Induced Abortion in Dairy Goat Herds

2008 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 428-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie Rousset ◽  
Mustapha Berri ◽  
Benoit Durand ◽  
Philippe Dufour ◽  
Myriam Prigent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Complement Fixation ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Fecal Shedding ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Q fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium largely carried by ruminants and shed into milk, vaginal mucus, and feces. The main potential hazard to humans and animals is due to shedding of bacteria that can then persist in the environment and be aerosolized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate shedding after an outbreak of Q fever abortion in goat herds and to assess the relationship with the occurrence of abortions and antibody responses. Aborting and nonaborting goats were monitored by PCR for C. burnetii shedding 15 and 30 days after the abortion episodes. PCR analysis of all samples showed that 70% (n = 50) of the aborting and 53% (n = 70) of the nonaborting goats were positive. C. burnetii was shed into vaginal mucus, feces, and milk of 44%, 21%, and 38%, respectively, of goats that aborted and 27%, 20%, and 31%, respectively, of goats that delivered normally. Statistical comparison of these shedding results did not reveal any difference between these two groups. PCR results obtained for the vaginal and fecal routes were concordant in 81% of cases, whereas those for milk correlated with only 49% of cases with either vaginal or fecal shedding status. Serological analysis, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and complement fixation tests, showed that at least 24% of the seronegative goats shed bacteria. Positive vaginal and fecal shedding, unlike positive milk shedding, was observed more often in animals that were weakly positive or negative by ELISA or IFA. Two opposite shedding trends were thus apparent for the milk and vaginal-fecal routes. Moreover, this study showed that a nonnegligible proportion of seronegative animals that delivered normally could excrete C. burnetii.

Solitary IgM phase II response has a limited predictive value in the diagnosis of acute Q fever

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (11) ◽  
pp. 1950-1954 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. H. RAVEN ◽  
J. L. A. HAUTVAST ◽  
T. HERREMANS ◽  
A. C. A. P. LEENDERS ◽  
P. M. SCHNEEBERGER
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Initial Sample ◽  
Acute Q Fever ◽  
Diagnostic Criterion

SUMMARYWe investigated the positive predictive value (PPV) of a solitary positive immunoglobulin M (IgM) phase II response for the serodiagnosis of acute Q fever detected with either an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Initial and follow-up sera from patients suspected of acute Q fever were included if initially only IgM phase II tested positive with IFA in 2008 (n=92), or ELISA in 2009 (n=85). A seroconversion for Q fever was defined as an initial sample being IgG phase II negative but positive in the follow-up sample. The PPV of an initial isolated IgM phase II result detected by IFA or ELISA was 65% and 51%, respectively, and therefore appeared not to adequately predict acute Q fever. For this reason it cannot be used as a diagnostic criterion nor should it be included in public health notification without confirmation with other markers or a follow-up serum sample.

scholarly journals Study and Management of a Q Fever Outbreak among Machine Tool Workers in the Basque Country (Spain)

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Delgado Naranjo ◽  
Eva Alonso Fustel ◽  
Inmaculada Aspiritxaga Gamarra ◽  
Guillermo Ezpeleta Lobato ◽  
Nerea Muniozguren Agirre
Keyword(s):  
Machine Tool ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Vaginal Swab ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
The Other ◽  
Positive Serology ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Milk Samples

The aim of this study is to describe a Q fever outbreak that affected the staff of a machine-tool factory in the Basque Country between 2009/12/20 and 2010/02/23. Study subjects were interviewed using a Q fever specific questionnaire and tested for Q fever serology (immunofluorescence assay with phase II antigen) and detecting Coxiella burnetii DNA using real-time PCR. We interviewed and tested 40 employees (90% of the staff). 33 employees, all of them men, had positive serology (attack rate 82.5%, 95% CI: 70.2–94.8). Mean age was 43.7 years (95% CI: 38.7–48.7) in positive men, 33.7 years (95% CI: −16.6–83.9) in negative men, and 36.25 (95% CI: 27.5–45.0) in women (all negatives). 15 cases (45.5%) were asymptomatic, 9 (27.3%) had flu-like symptoms, and the other 9 (27.3%) had developed radiologically confirmed pneumonia. We obtained 28 blood samples, 22 faeces samples, 11 milk samples, and one vaginal swab from 28 goats resting in a stable near the factory. Serology was positive in 18 goats (64.3%). All environmental samples were negative.

scholarly journals Q fever: A neglected disease of camels in Giza and Cairo Provinces, Egypt

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1945-1950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hend H. A. M. Abdullah ◽  
Hany A. Hussein ◽  
Khaled A. Abd El-Razik ◽  
Ashraf M. A. Barakat ◽  
Yousef A. Soliman
Keyword(s):  
Q Fever ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Acute Stage ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Molecular Tools ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Sensitive Tool ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Background and Aim: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goat are the main reservoir of C. burnetii. In Egypt, the epidemiological data about C. burnetii in camels are limited. Therefore, the current study was conducted to identify C. burnetii infection in camels by different molecular tools and to estimate its seropositivity through the detection of anti-C. burnetii antibodies in camel sera. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected 112 from camels in Giza and Cairo Provinces, Egypt. All blood samples were screened by trans-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (trans-qPCR) for C. burnetii and positive samples subjected to standard PCR using the superoxide dismutase enzyme coding gene of C. burnetii. Sera of studied camels were examined for the presence of antibodies against C. burnetii using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Out of 112 camels, 19 were positive for C. burnetii by qPCR with an overall prevalence of 16.9% (18.6% in Giza and 15.1% in Cairo Provinces, respectively). The seroprevalence of anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies in the examined camels was 4.5% (5/112). Conclusion: Trans-qPCR assay is a rapid and sensitive tool for the detection of C. burnetii in acute stage. Camels should be considered one of the major reservoirs for C. burnetii in Egypt.

scholarly journals Q fever epidemic in Hungary, April to July 2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (30) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Gyuranecz ◽  
K M Sulyok ◽  
E Balla ◽  
T Mag ◽  
A Balázs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Variable Number Tandem Repeat ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Sheep Flock ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Retrosternal Pain ◽  
Human Sample

We investigated a Q fever outbreak with human patients showing high fever, respiratory tract symptoms, headache and retrosternal pain in southern Hungary in the spring and summer of 2013. Seventy human cases were confirmed by analysing their serum and blood samples with micro-immunofluorescence test and real-time PCR. The source of infection was a merino sheep flock of 450 ewes, in which 44.6% (25/56) seropositivity was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected by real-time PCR in the milk of four of 20 individuals and in two thirds (41/65) of the manure samples. The multispacer sequence typing examination of C. burnetii DNA revealed sequence type 18 in one human sample and two manure samples from the sheep flock. The multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis pattern of the sheep and human strains were also almost identical, 4/5-9-3-3-0-5 (Ms23-Ms24-Ms27-Ms28-Ms33-Ms34). It is hypothesised that dried manure and maternal fluid contaminated with C. burnetii was dispersed by the wind from the sheep farm towards the local inhabitants. The manure was eliminated in June and the farm was disinfected in July. The outbreak ended at the end of July 2013.

scholarly journals Seroepidemiological Study of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae and Identification of a Putative New Species, Rickesttsia sp. Da-1, in Gongliao, Northeast Taiwan

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1434
Author(s):  
Tsai-Ying Yen ◽  
Hsi-Chieh Wang ◽  
Yin-Chao Chang ◽  
Chien-Ling Su ◽  
Shu-Fen Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
New Species ◽  
Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Blood Samples

Tick-borne spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses were neglected in Taiwan. The study reported a seroepidemiological survey of SFG rickettsiae in residents in Gongliao District, Northeast Taiwan. Blood samples were examined for antibodies against SFG rickettsiae by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence assay. Risk factors were assessed using logistic regression. Ticks parasitizing dogs were collected within a 2 km radius from the houses of seropositive participants, and PCR was performed to detect possible tick-borne pathogens. Of 1108 participants, 75 (6.8%) had antibodies against SFG rickettsiae. Residents were more likely to be seropositive if they were older than 65 years, recruited by Dr. Enjoy’s Clinic, or resided in Jilin village. A total of 184 ticks including 5 species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Dermacentor auratus, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis ornithophila) were collected. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 6.5% (12/184) of ticks. Rickettsia sp. TwKM01 was found in 6 R. sanguineus and 4 R. haemaphysaloides; while Rickettsia sp. TwKM03 was identified in 1 R. sanguineus. Moreover, gene-based pairwise analysis indicated identification of a putative new species, Rickettsia sp. Da-1, in D. auratus. These findings provided evidence of SFG rickettsiae infection in ticks and suggested SFG rickettsiae exposure in the residents.

scholarly journals Validation of a Novel Commercial ELISA Test for the Detection of Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1075
Author(s):  
Salvatore Ledda ◽  
Cinzia Santucciu ◽  
Valentina Chisu ◽  
Giovanna Masala
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Complex Life Cycle ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, a Gram-negative pathogen with a complex life cycle and a high impact on public and animal health all over the world. The symptoms are indistinguishable from those belonging to other diseases, and the disease could be symptomless. For these reasons, reliable laboratory tests are essential for an accurate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to validate a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, named the Chorus Q Fever Phase II IgG and IgM Kit (DIESSE, Diagnostica Senese S.p.A), which is performed by an instrument named Chorus, a new device in medical diagnostics. This diagnostic test is employed for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii Phase II antigens in acute disease. Our validation protocol was performed according to the Italian Accreditation Body (ACCREDIA) (Regulation UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 and 17043:2010), OIE (World Organization for Animal Health), and Statement for Reporting Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD). Operator performance was evaluated along with the analytical specificity and sensitivity (ASp and ASe) and diagnostic accuracy of the kit, with parameters such as diagnostic specificity and sensitivity (DSp and DSe) and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), in addition to the repeatability. According to the evaluated parameters, the diagnostic ELISA test was shown to be suitable for validation and commercialization as a screening method in human sera and a valid support for clinical diagnostics.

scholarly journals Etiology, clinical characteristics and coinfection status of bronchiolitis in Suzhou

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiahong Tan ◽  
Jinfeng Wu ◽  
Wujun Jiang ◽  
Li Huang ◽  
Wei Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Direct Immunofluorescence ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Mixed Virus Infection

Abstract Background Bronchiolitis is a clinical syndrome commonly encountered in practice, particularly among infants and young children. To investigate the prevalence of pathogens in hospitalized children with bronchiolitis and study the clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis with or without coinfections. Methods We investigated the respiratory specimens and clinical data of 1012 children with bronchiolitis who were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between November 2011 and December 2018. The nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined to detect viruses by direct immunofluorescence assay or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was tested by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Of the 1134 children less than 2 years with bronchiolitis, 122 were excluded by exclusion criteria. Causative pathogen was detected in 83.2% (842 of 1012). The majority of these (614 [72.9%] of 842) were single virus infection. The most common pathogens detected were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (44.4%), MP (15.6%), and human rhinovirus (HRV) (14.4%). Coinfection was identified in 13.5% (137 of 1012) of the patients. Coinfection included mixed virus infection and virus infection with MP infection. Children with single virus infection had a higher rate of oxygen therapy compared with single MP infection. Conclusions The most common pathogen detected in children with bronchiolitis is RSV, followed by MP and HRV. Coinfection leads to a longer period of illness, increased severity of the symptoms and increased risk of hypoxemia.

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