Genetic evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in acute febrile illnesses in Iran

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 Feb 11;13(2):e0007181. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007181. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that Q-fever is more prevalent in Iran than originally believed. However, in most parts of the country, clinicians do not pay enough attention to Q fever in their differential diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in suspected cases of acute Q fever in north-western Iran using molecular techniques. Febrile patients were enrolled in the study and investigated for C. burnetii infection. Sera samples were tested using real-time PCR for detection of IS1111 gene, and positive samples were confirmed with nested PCR. Nine patients (4.2%) out of 216 suspected cases were positive for C. burnetii. Weakness and fatigue, headache, and lethargy were the most prevalent clinical symptoms in acute Q fever patients. According to the results of this study and other reports of human cases in Iran, the diagnosis system of Q fever in Iran should be urgently revamped.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coxiella burnetii / genetics*
  • Female
  • Fever
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Q Fever / epidemiology*
  • Q Fever / microbiology*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study has been approved and supported by Tarbiat Modares University. Also, this project was funded by the Iranian National Scientific Foundation (INSF; Contract No. 91004716), Pasteur Institute of Iran and Centre for Communicable Diseases Control in Ministry of Health (grant 810). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.