Serological evaluation of Q fever in humans: enhanced phase I titers of immunoglobulins G and A are diagnostic for Q fever endocarditis

• Published in: Infection and immunity Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 1089 - 1098
• Main Authors: PEACOCK, M. G, PHILIP, R. N, WILLIAMS, J. C, FAULKNER, R. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 1983
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Coxiella burnetii; Human bacterial diseases; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Rickettsial diseases; Tropical bacterial diseases; Tropical medicine; Human; IgA; IgG; Cardiovascular disease; Diagnostic; Immunoglobulin; Infection; Rickettsial disease; Q fever; Heart disease; Endocarditis; Bacteriosis; Serum; Ratio
• ISSN: 0019-9567; 1098-5522
• DOI: 10.1128/iai.41.3.1089-1098.1983

Serological parameters were compared in 15 cases of C. burnetii infection comprising 5 cases each of primary Q fever, chronic granulomatous hepatitis, and endocarditis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical history and serology and on the isolation of C. burnetii phase I from biopsy specimens of liver and bone marrow from two patients with granulomatous hepatitis and from the aortic value vegetations of five patients with endocarditis. The temporal sequences of immunoglobulin levels, rheumatoid factor, and specific antibody responses to phase II and phase I antigens of C. burnetii were evaluated as predictive correlates of the three Q fever entities.