title: Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies among febrile patients in Croatia, 2008-2010.
abstract: Despite the widespread distribution of Q fever, the prevalence in humans is not accurately known, because many infected people seroconvert without symptoms or with a mild febrile disease. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Q fever in different regions of Croatia. During a 2-year period (2008-2010), serum samples from 552 febrile patients with prolonged cough aged 1-88 were tested for the presence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies by using indirect immunofluorescent assay. Sera from 27.5% patients showed IgG antibodies. Serological evidence of C. burnetii infection was found in patients from all parts of Croatia. Seroprevalence rates significantly differed among regions from 21.5% to 41.2% (p=0.001). Men were more often seropositive (31.6%) than women (22.2%; p=0.016). According to age, a progressive increase in the IgG seropositivity rates was observed as ranging from 6.7% in children less than 10 years of age to 39.2% in patients aged 40-49 (p=0.001). Above the age of 50, the IgG seroprevalence remained stable. Patients from rural areas were more often seropositive than patients from urban areas (40.8% vs. 19%), p<0.001). Acute Q fever was confirmed in 5.8% of patients. Cases occurred throughout the year. A majority of cases were reported during summer months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. tatjana.vilibic-cavlek@hzjz.hr
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vilibic-Cavlek
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kucinar
authors.forename: Suncanica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ljubin-Sternak
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolaric
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaic
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazaric-Stefanovic
authors.forename: Blazenka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hunjak
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mlinaric-Galinovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M