Minimizing the risk of occupational Q fever exposure: A protocol for ensuring Coxiella burnetii–negative pregnant ewes are used for medical research

2020 ◽  
pp. 002367722096562
Author(s):  
Laura A Galganski ◽  
Benjamin A Keller ◽  
Connor Long ◽  
Kaeli J Yamashiro ◽  
Mennatalla S Hegazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Research Facility ◽  
Increased Risk

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii that can lead to abortion, endocarditis, and death in humans. Researchers utilizing parturient domestic ruminants, including sheep, have an increased risk of occupational exposure. This study evaluated the effectiveness of our screening protocol in eliminating C. burnetii–positive sheep from our facility. From August 2010 to May 2018, all ewes ( N  =  306) and select lambs ( N  =  272; ovis aries) were screened twice for C. burnetii utilizing a serum Phase I and Phase II antibody immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The first screen was performed by the vendor prior to breeding, and the second screen was performed on arrival to the research facility. Ewes that were positive on arrival screening were quarantined and retested using repeat IFA serology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, buffy coat polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and amniotic fluid PCR. The overall individual seroprevalence of C. burnetii in the flocks tested by the vendor was 14.2%. Ewes with negative Phase I and Phase II IFA results were selected for transport to the research facility. Upon arrival to the facility, two (0.7%) ewes had positive Phase I IFA results. Repeat testing demonstrated seropositivity in one of these two ewes, though amniotic fluid PCR was negative in both. The repeat seropositive ewe was euthanized prior to use in a research protocol. No Q fever was reported among husbandry, laboratory or veterinary staff during the study period. Serologic testing for C. burnetii with IFA prior to transport and following arrival to a research facility limits potential exposure to research staff.

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 Animals withCoxiella burnetiiInfection Demonstrate a Western Immunoblot Profile of Chronic Q Fever in Humans

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
TJ Marrie ◽  
Linda Yates
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Western Immunoblotting ◽  
Western Immunoblot ◽  
Chronic Q Fever

Western immunoblotting was used to compare the immune response toCoxiella burnetiiphase I and phase II antigens of humans with acute and chronic Q fever with that of infected cats, rabbits, cows and raccoons. The cats, rabbits, cows and raccoons had an immunoblot profile similar to that of the human with chronic Q fever.

scholarly journals Truckin' pneumonia—an outbreak of Q fever in a truck repair plant probably due to aerosols from clothing contaminated by contact with newborn kittens

1989 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Marrie ◽  
Donald Langille ◽  
Vasilia Papukna ◽  
Linda Yates
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Attack Rate ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
The Other ◽  
High Antibody ◽  
First Case ◽  
The Family ◽  
Antibody Titres

SUMMARYWe describe an outbreak of Q fever affecting 16 of 32 employees at a truck repair plant. None of the cases were exposed to cattle, sheep or goats. the traditional reservoirs of Q fever. The cases did not work, live on, or visit farms or attend livestock auctions. One of the employees had a cat which gave birth to kittens 2 weeks prior to the first case of Q fever in the plant. The cat owner fed the kittens every day before coming to work as the cat would not let the kittens suckle. Serum from the cat had high antibody titres to phase I and phase IICoxiella burnetiiantigens. The attack rate among the employees where the cat owner worked. 13 of 19 (68%), was higher than that of employees elsewhere, 3 of 13 (28%) [P <0·01]. The cat owner's wife and son also developed Q fever. None of the family members of the other employees with Q fever was so affected.We conclude that this outbreak of Q fever probably resulted from exposure to the contaminated clothing of the cat owner.

scholarly journals Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Symptomatic Acute Q Fever Do Not Prohibit IgG Antibody Responses to Coxiella burnetii

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1661-1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. H. Wielders ◽  
L. M. Kampschreur ◽  
P. M. Schneeberger ◽  
M. M. Jager ◽  
A. I. M. Hoepelman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Acute Q Fever

ABSTRACTLittle is known about the effect of timing of antibiotic treatment on development of IgG antibodies following acute Q fever. We studied IgG antibody responses in symptomatic patients diagnosed either before or during development of the serologic response toCoxiella burnetii. Between 15 and 31 May 2009, 186 patients presented with acute Q fever, of which 181 were included in this retrospective study: 91 early-diagnosed (ED) acute Q fever patients, defined as negative IgM phase II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and positive PCR, and 90 late-diagnosed (LD) acute Q fever patients, defined as positive/dubious IgM phase II ELISA and positive immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Follow-up serology at 3, 6, and 12 months was performed using IFA (IgG phase I and II). High IgG antibody titers were defined as IgG phase II titers of ≥1:1,024 together with IgG phase I titers of ≥1:256. At 12 months, 28.6% of ED patients and 19.5% of LD patients had high IgG antibody titers (P= 0.17). No statistically significant differences were found in frequencies of IgG phase I and IgG phase II antibody titers at all follow-up appointments for adequately and inadequately treated patients overall, as well as for ED and LD patients analyzed separately. Additionally, no significant difference was found in frequencies of high antibody titers and between early (treatment started within 7 days after seeking medical attention) and late timing of treatment. This study indicates that early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of acute Q fever do not prohibit development of the IgG antibody response.

scholarly journals Culture under normoxic conditions and enhanced virulence of phase II Coxiella burnetii transformed with a RSF1010-based shuttle vector

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengdong Luo ◽  
Zemin He ◽  
Zhihui Sun ◽  
Yonghui Yu ◽  
Yongqiang Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Shuttle Vector ◽  
Axenic Culture ◽  
Hypoxic Condition ◽  
Kanamycin Resistance ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Egfp Gene

AbstractCoxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular microorganism that can cause acute or chronic Q fever in human. It was recognized as an obligate intracellular organism until the revolutionary design of an axenic cystine culture medium (ACCM). Present axenic culture of C. burnetii strictly requires a hypoxic condition (<10% oxygen). Here we investigated the normoxic growth of C. burnetii strains in ACCM-2 with or without tryptophan supplementation. Three C. burnetii strains - Henzerling phase I, Nine Mile phase II and a Nine Mile phase II transformant, were included. The transformant contains a pMMGK plasmid that is composed of a RSF1010 ori, a repABC operon, an eGFP gene and a kanamycin resistance cassette. We found that, under normoxia if staring from an appropriate concentration of fresh age inocula, Nine Mile phase II can grow significantly in ACCM-2 with tryptophan, while the transformant can grow robustly in ACCM-2 with or without tryptophan. In contrast, long-term frozen stocks of phase II and its transformant, and Henzerling phase I of different ages had no growth capability under normoxia under any circumstances. Furthermore, frozen stocks of the transformant consistently caused large splenomegaly in SCID mice, while wild type Nine Mile phase II induced a lesser extent of splenomegaly. Taken together, our data show that normoxic cultivation of phase II C. burnetii can be achieved under certain conditions. Our data suggests that tryptophan and an unknown temperature sensitive signal are involved in the expression of genes for normoxic growth regulated by quorum sensing in C. burnetii.

Infection by Coxiella burnetii in a patient from a rural area of Monteria, Colombia

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 958-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salim Mattar V ◽  
Verónica Contreras C ◽  
Marco Gonzalez T ◽  
Francisco Camargo ◽  
Jaime Alvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescence ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Antibody Titers

<p>Q fever is a zoonosis caused by <em>Coxiella burnetii</em>. In Colombia, there have been very few human cases reported to date. This report describes the case of a 56-year-old patient with a background in agriculture and livestock handling. An indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed high titers of IgG for <em>C. burnetii</em> anti-phase I (1: 256) and anti-phase II (1:1024). For the next six months the patient’s IgG antibody titers remained high, and, after treatment with doxycycline, the IgG antibody titers decreased to 50 % (anti-phase I 1:128 and anti-phase II 1:512); this profile suggests an infection of <em>C. burnetii</em>.</p>

The immune response in a cat-related outbreak of Q fever as measured by the indirect immunofluorescence test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

1990 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Embil ◽  
J. C. Williams ◽  
T. J. Marrie
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Whole Cells ◽  
Chronic Q Fever ◽  
Acute Q Fever ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescent

The isotypic immune response of 16 individuals who developed Q fever pneumonia following exposure to an infected parturient cat was studied. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) test was used to detect IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies to phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii whole-cell antigens and to the phase I lipopolysaccharide. The indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test was also used to detect antibodies to phase I and phase II whole cells. None of the 16 subjects developed antibodies to the phase I lipopoly saccharide. The ELISA was more sensitive than the IFA test. IgM antibodies to phase II antigen were detectable by ELISA in 80% of the subjects at the time of onset of symptoms and were still present in 7 of the 8 tested at 32 weeks following the onset of symptoms. In all instances (ELISA: IgG, IgM; IFA: IgG, IgM) phase II antibodies developed earlier and reached higher levels than did phase I antibodies. The absence of antibodies to phase I lipopolysaccharide in acute Q fever combined with our unpublished findings of antibodies to phase I lipopoly saccharide in chronic Q fever suggests that this test may be used to distinguish acute from chronic Q fever. Key words: Q fever, immune response, ELISA.

Seroepidemiology of Q fever in New Brunswick and Manitoba

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1043-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Marrie
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Antibody Titer ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Immunofluorescence Test ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescence Test

A seroepidemiological survey, using an indirect immunofluorescence test, was carried out on serum samples obtained from New Brunswick and Manitoba blood donors during 1986. The antigens were Coxiella burnetii phase I and phase II from strain Nine Mile. Eighty of the 503 (15.9%) Manitoba blood donors had a phase II antibody titer of ≥ 1:8, while 41 (4.2%) of the 966 New Brunswick blood donors had such antibodies. We have recently diagnosed three cases of Q fever in New Brunswick but none have been diagnosed in Manitoba. Our data suggest that Q fever may be increasing in New Brunswick and repeated seroepidemiological studies are indicated. It is likely that undetected cases of Q fever are occurring in Manitoba.

Proteomic comparison of virulent phase I and avirulent phase II of Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1974-1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludovit Skultety ◽  
Martin Hajduch ◽  
Gabriela Flores-Ramirez ◽  
Ján A. Miernyk ◽  
Fedor Ciampor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Q Fever

scholarly journals Seroprevalence Coxiella burnetii among cows and sheep in Thi-Qar Province/ Iraq

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Journal Manager ◽  
J. Abed, A.A Salih, and A. Abd-ul-husien
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Serum Samples

The aim of this study is detecting antibodies of phase I and phase II of Coxiella burnetii bacterium, the cause of Q-fever, a zoonotic diesase in humans and animals in Thi-Qar province.Out of 393 serum samples collected randomly from Thi-Qar province from aborted and non aborted cows and ewes, the results appeared that 29 (7.37%) samples of cows and ewes were seropositive for C. burnetii distributed as 16 seropositive samples of 172 cows (9.3%) and 13 seropositive samples of 221 sheep (5.8%).the most positive cases associated with abortion cases with ratio (92.3%) in ewes and (75%) in cows.

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