Molecular Detection of Coxiella burnetii in the Sera of Patients with Q Fever Endocarditis or Vascular Infection

摘要: In the absence of a specific diagnosis based on serology, chronic Q fever is inevitably fatal. However, often delayed because test not widely available. To shorten diagnostic delay, we adapted nested-PCR assay with serum as template and LightCycler thermal cycler, termed LCN-PCR. We retrospectively prospectively applied this method to samples from 48 patients diagnosed endocarditis or vascular infection 100 controls caused by other microorganisms. also technique 30 treated for 13 convalescent acute ambiguous immunoglobulin G (IgG) phase I titer. LCN-PCR had specificity 100%. It was positive only in evolutive fever, none presented results. When performed recently stored sera, sensitivity 64% (7 11 samples; P = 0.004), but efficiency dramatically altered storage specimens at -20 degrees C. High IgG titers decreased A significant difference observed among results sera > =1:25,600 compared <1:25,600 (0 15 versus 33 0.004). patient below 1:25,600 tested prospectively, 100% 7). The may be helpful establishing an early fever.