Department of Virology, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012 Apr;12(4):293-6. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0681. Epub 2012 Jan 12.
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.
尽管 Q 热广泛分布，但人类的流行情况并不准确，因为许多感染的人血清转化而无症状或出现轻度发热疾病。本研究旨在确定克罗地亚不同地区 Q 热的血清流行率。在两年期间（2008-2010 年），对 552 名年龄在 1-88 岁的有长期咳嗽的发热患者的血清样本进行了间接免疫荧光检测，以检测有无 Q 热立克次体抗体。27.5%的患者血清呈 IgG 抗体阳性。在克罗地亚各地的患者中均发现了 C. burnetii 感染的血清学证据。血清流行率在各地区之间存在显著差异，范围为 21.5%至 41.2%（p=0.001）。男性（31.6%）比女性（22.2%）更常呈血清阳性（p=0.016）。按年龄计算，随着年龄的增长，IgG 血清阳性率逐渐增加，范围从 10 岁以下儿童的 6.7%到 40-49 岁患者的 39.2%（p=0.001）。50 岁以上，IgG 血清流行率保持稳定。来自农村地区的患者比来自城市地区的患者更常呈血清阳性（40.8%比 19%），p<0.001）。5.8%的患者被确诊为急性 Q 热。全年均有病例发生。大多数病例报告发生在夏季。
