Comparison of Three Serologic Tests for the Detection of Anti-Coxiella burnetii Antibodies in Patients with Q Fever

França, Danilo Alves de; Fornazari, Felipe; Rodrigues, Nássarah Jabur Lot; Polido, Lucas Roberto Ferreira; Appolinário, Camila Michele; Ribeiro, Bruna Letícia Devidé; Duré, Ana Íris de Lima; Silva, Marcos Vinícius Ferreira; Richini-Pereira, Virgínia Bodelão; Langoni, Hélio; Megid, Jane

doi:10.3390/pathogens12070873

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In addition, an in-house serological test for Q fever was used instead of commercially available kits, which may have generated differences in positivity and correspondent titers. However, the in-house assay produced for the study herein with the Argentine antigen has proven to be very efficient in detecting anti-phase II antibodies, i.e., IgG anti- C. burnetii antibodies, in patients with Q fever [ 13 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The human serum samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), performed at the Laboratory of Rickettsioses and Hantaviruses of the Octávio Magalhães Institute, Ezequiel Dias Foundation (Funed-MG). A previously validated in-house assay (IFA Kit, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) was used with an antigen produced from embryonated eggs of the Argentine strain At12 isolated from ticks [ 13 ] and tested using an anti-human IgG conjugate antibody (Bethyl Laboratories, Montgomery, TX, EUA). Positive and negative controls were obtained from a previously laboratory daily routine, with positive titers of 1:16.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following, 30 µL of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-anti-human IgG antibody was inserted into the concavities, with another incubation in a humid chamber for 30 min at 37 • C. After another washing and drying, slides were mounted with buffered glycerin and coverslips with immunofluorescence readings under a specific microscope (Olympus BX53, Tokyo, Japan) with a 40x optical objective. Positive and negative reaction controls were prepared for each slide reading, with positive samples submitted to serial dilutions of 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, and so on until the last titer was reached, as previously described [13].…”

Section: Human Serological Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Descendants of Former Black Slaves (Quilombola Communities) of Southern Brazil

de França,

Kmetiuk,

Panazzolo

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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Brazilian descendants of former Black-slave (quilombola) communities have been predisposed to several zoonotic diseases due to social vulnerability, characterized by subsistence and close contact with livestock and companion animals. Accordingly, the present study has assessed anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies in 200 individuals and 20 dogs from four quilombola communities located in Paraná State, southern Brazil. Serum samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using in-house and commercial diagnostic protocols, with analysis of seropositive titers and antibody type. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare seropositivity to C. burnetti with binary variables, with variables with three or more possible responses submitted to logistic regression. In total, 44/200 (22%; 95% CI 16.82–28.24) people tested positive, and 4.5% had titers higher than 128, indicating a recent onset of C. burnetii infection. Seropositive individuals were statistically associated with the Limitão community (p = 0.0013), urban workers as occupations (p = 0.0475), consumption of undercooked meat (p = 0.0159), and contact with animal abortion (p = 0.0276). No seropositivity association was found for age, sex, education, habit of entering forest areas, consumption of game meat, consumption of raw milk, flea and tick bites, dog contact, or history of female miscarriage. Only one of 20 dogs was seropositive with a titer of 128, probably related to an acute animal infection. Despite the prevalence here being higher than previous Brazilian reports, including with symptomatic populations, the results were within range for worldwide outbreaks and occupational risk populations. To the reader’s knowledge, this is the first human survey of Q fever in southern Brazil and should be considered a warning for C. burnetii in vulnerable populations, particularly Quilombola communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Human Serological Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Descendants of Former Black Slaves (Quilombola Communities) of Southern Brazil

de França,

Kmetiuk,

Panazzolo

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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“…An IgG anti-dog fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) antibody was used for the tests. Serologies were performed according to the protocol described by França et al [ 28 ]. Reactions were observed under an Olympus BX53 immunofluorescence microscope (Photonic Solutions Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada) equipped with a 40× objective lens.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Police Officers and Working Dogs in Brazil: Case Report and One Health Implications

de França,

da Silva,

Rodrigues

et al. 2024

TropicalMed

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Background: Although the Coxiella burnetii infection has been investigated in dogs, its role in human transmission remains to be fully established, particularly in close and daily human–dog contact settings, such as in Police K-9 Units. Methods: Accordingly, this study aimed to assess anti-C. burnetii antibodies in clinically healthy police officers by an in-house indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and working dogs by a commercial IFA Kit, from the State Special Operations Battalion, Paraná, Southern Brazil. Results: Overall, 1/18 (5.5%) police officers and 9/30 (30.0%; CI 95% 16.66–47.88) dogs tested seropositive to anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies. Conclusions: To date, this is the highest prevalence of Q fever seropositivity among military dogs worldwide. Despite the low sampling rate, a statistically significant association was found between seropositivity and female dogs (p = 0.0492). Further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to establish the prevalence of Q Fever in other Brazilian K-9 Units. In summary, this study is the first to conduct a concomitant serosurvey of police officers and working dogs, and its findings should be considered a warning for cross-exposure and transmission of Coxiella burnetii among Police K-9 Units in Brazil and worldwide.

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“…Serology is the gold standard for diagnosing chronic Q fever, with indirect immunofluorescence preferred [8]. Phase 2 antibodies are the first to appear, followed by phase 1 antibodies as a result of antigen phase variation [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case report: a missed case of chronic Q fever infective endocarditis demonstrating the ongoing diagnostic challenges

Grey,

Simos,

Runnegar

et al. 2023

Access Microbiology

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Diagnosis of chronic Q fever is often difficult for clinicians, particularly in the presence of a second pathology. In addition to the chronic constitutional symptoms, the most common manifestations of chronic Q fever include infective endocarditis and endovascular infection. We describe a case of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis caused by both Streptococcus sanguinis and Coxiella burnetti on a background of a previous aortic graft and bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 2 years earlier. The diagnosis of chronic Q fever infective endocarditis was delayed because the significance of the abnormal valve histology from the patient’s previous surgery was initially overlooked. It was only after the patient had relapsed on appropriate therapy for the S. sanguinis prosthetic valve endocarditis that a subsequent review of the operative valve histology, along with the patient’s epidemiological risk factors, led to consideration of an additional culture-negative cause for infective endocarditis. Histological examination of the valve tissue had shown exophytic fibrin vegetations and acute inflammation. Further clinical assessment revealed previous exposure to Q fever and C. burnetti DNA was detected via polymerase chain reaction on the valve tissue. Q fever infective endocarditis must be considered if valves are inflamed or have vegetations with a subsequent negative culture. It should also still be considered in the presence of an alternative bacteraemia if the patient has risk factors for exposure.

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Comparison of Three Serologic Tests for the Detection of Anti-Coxiella burnetii Antibodies in Patients with Q Fever

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Descendants of Former Black Slaves (Quilombola Communities) of Southern Brazil

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Descendants of Former Black Slaves (Quilombola Communities) of Southern Brazil

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Police Officers and Working Dogs in Brazil: Case Report and One Health Implications

Case report: a missed case of chronic Q fever infective endocarditis demonstrating the ongoing diagnostic challenges

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