title: Seroprevalence of infection by Coxiella burnetii in Canary Islands (Spain).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (i) to know the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in the Canary Islands, (ii) to evaluate its epidemiologic features and (iii) to compare the rates of seroprevalence using two different cut-offs (1:20 and 1:80) for the diagnosis of past infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed a representative sample of the canarian population. 662 sera were tested. For the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against C. burnetii phase II antigens an immuofluorescence assay was used. The serologic screening for IgG detection begun with a 1:20 dilution. A titer of IgG > or = 1:80 along with a negative IgM were used as criteria for previous infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At an IgG antibody titer against C. burnetii of 1:80 as diagnostic for past infection, the observed global seroprevalence was 21.5%. If the cut-off used was 1:20, the observed prevalence increased up to 35.8% (p = 0.001). Significantly different seroprevalence rates were obtained at these different cut-offs when results were analysed for groups of age and socioeconomic status, but not for either the island of origin or for farmers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results strongly suggest that Coxiella burnetii infection is endemic in all the Canary Islands. Although it is more frequent in males above 30 years old, it do affect people of all ages, and thus it should be borne in mind in the face of any acute febrile syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolaños
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angel-Moreno
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez-Arellano
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Limiñana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra-Majem
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Martín-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D016997:Coxiella burnetii; D006801:Humans; D011778:Q Fever; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial