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  • Title: Persistent high IgG phase I antibody levels against Coxiella burnetii among veterinarians compared to patients previously diagnosed with acute Q fever after three years of follow-up.
    Author: Wielders CC, Boerman AW, Schimmer B, van den Brom R, Notermans DW, van der Hoek W, Schneeberger PM.
    Journal: PLoS One; 2015; 10(1):e0116937. PubMed ID: 25602602.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Little is known about the development of chronic Q fever in occupational risk groups. The aim of this study was to perform long-term follow-up of Coxiella burnetii seropositive veterinarians and investigate the course of IgG phase I and phase II antibodies against C. burnetii antigens and to compare this course with that in patients previously diagnosed with acute Q fever. METHODS: Veterinarians with IgG phase I ≥ 1:256 (immunofluorescence assay) that participated in a previous seroprevalence study were asked to provide a second blood sample three years later. IgG antibody profiles were compared to a group of acute Q fever patients who had IgG phase I ≥ 1:256 twelve months after diagnosis. RESULTS: IgG phase I was detected in all veterinarians (n = 76) and in 85% of Q fever patients (n = 98) after three years (p<0.001). IgG phase I ≥ 1:1,024, indicating possible chronic Q fever, was found in 36% of veterinarians and 12% of patients (OR 3.95, 95% CI: 1.84-8.49). CONCLUSIONS: IgG phase I persists among veterinarians presumably because of continuous exposure to C. burnetii during their work. Serological and clinical follow-up of occupationally exposed risk groups should be considered.
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