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Category: Clinical Microbiology
Q Fever: Queries Remaining after Decades of Research, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816988/9781555812164_Chap03-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816988/9781555812164_Chap03-2.gifAbstract:
Query (Q) fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. The current understanding of the natural history of Q fever is that a nonimmune patient enters into contact with C. burnetii. The immune control of Q fever is T cell dependent, but it does not lead to C. burnetii eradication, and immunosuppression can induce relapse of infection in apparently cured patients or laboratory animals. Incubation of monocytes from patients with Q fever endocarditis demonstrated an increase in the secretion of interleukin 10 (IL-10), which was also increased in patients who had relapsed after treatment of Q fever endocarditis. A higher rate of complaints of various pains (headaches, myalgias, and arthralgias) in Q fever hepatitis patients were observed, including thrombocytopenia as well as elevated sedimentation rate. Q fever hepatitis patients frequently exhibit autoantibodies, including anti-smooth muscle antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and antiphospholipid antibodies. The combination of hydroxychloroquine and doxycycline is currently the most effective therapy. The diagnosis of Q fever is easy when it is considered as part of the differential diagnosis, and the main diagnostic test for Q fever is microimmunofluorescence serology.
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Number of cases of Q fever in France as diagnosed at the National Reference Center (1985 to 1999). (A) Number of submitted sera (bars) and number of positive sera (IgG titer of ≥1/200 by immunofluorescence) (diamonds). (B) Number of recorded observations of acute (squares) and chronic (triangles) Q fever.
Number of cases of Q fever in France as diagnosed at the National Reference Center (1985 to 1999). (A) Number of submitted sera (bars) and number of positive sera (IgG titer of ≥1/200 by immunofluorescence) (diamonds). (B) Number of recorded observations of acute (squares) and chronic (triangles) Q fever.
Conditions that predispose to chronic infection in human beings and in laboratory animals
Conditions that predispose to chronic infection in human beings and in laboratory animals
Immunological profile of patients with Q fever
Immunological profile of patients with Q fever
Clinical manifestations of Q fever
Clinical manifestations of Q fever
Clinical spectrum of Q fever
Clinical spectrum of Q fever
Recent series of cases of Q fever endocarditis (1997 to 2000)
Recent series of cases of Q fever endocarditis (1997 to 2000)
Clinical symptoms and signs and laboratory findings in Q fever endocarditis patients a
Clinical symptoms and signs and laboratory findings in Q fever endocarditis patients a
Diagnostic tests for Q fever
Diagnostic tests for Q fever
Recently reported outbreaks of Q fever
Recently reported outbreaks of Q fever