title: Acute Q fever among febrile patients in Zahedan, southeastern Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  So far, few studies have been conducted on Q fever in Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of acute Q fever in febrile patients admitted to Boo-Ali Hospital in Zahedan (southeastern Iran).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 105 febrile patients suspected ofhaving brucellosis were examined using indirect immunofluorescent assay kit for the detection of Coxiella burnetii IgM and IgG phase antibodies in their serum. Serum with a phase II IgG titer of > or =256 and a phase II IgM titer of > or =50 was predictive for acute Q fever. Additionally, a 4-fold rise in antibody titers was considered diagnostic of Q fever. Results were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 for Windows.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 105 patients (male: 52, female: 53), 35.2% (37/105) febrile patients had a positive serology test for acute Q fever. The prevalence of acute Q fever in women and men was 17/37 (45.9%) and 20/37 (54%), respectively. There was serological evidence of past infection in 36 (34.3%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of our study, acute Q fever is highly prevalent in this province. Thus, it is necessary to pay attention to this disease to prevent its transmission in this region.
authors.affiliation: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Maliheh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metanat
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sepehri Rad
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alavi-Naini
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahreki
authors.forename: Batool
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharifi-Mood
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhavan
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Poormontaseri
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*