title: Exposure of cats in southern Africa to Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever.
abstract: Recently, the domestic cat has been implicated in numerous outbreaks of Q fever in humans. To determine if cats in southern Africa are infected with the agent of Q fever we tested sera from cats in South Africa and Zimbabwe by indirect fluorescence for antibodies reactive with phase II Coxiella burnetii antigen (Nine Mile strain). Reactive antibodies were detected at titres of > or = 1/40 in sera from cats in South Africa (1/52, 2%) and Zimbabwe (15/119, 13%). Our results indicate that cats in southern Africa are infected with C. burnetii and should be considered as sources of infection for humans.
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matthewman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Downie
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wray
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rycroft
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial