Detection of Human Coxiella Burnetii Infection Using Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

The examination involved the individuals, whose sera were tested in the Laboratory for specific diagnostic of human Q fever, in the Department for Microbiology of the Medical Faculty University of Sarajevo, during the period 2000 - 2004, using the IFA test for detection of human IgM and IgG antibodies for C. burnetti. Human Coxiella burnetti infection was confirmed in 191 (69.7%) men and 83 (30.3%) women, with the most frequent occurrence in the group aged between 31 and 40 (26.7%). Analyzing the values of obtained results of titers of specific IgM and IgG antibodies phase I and phase II C. burnetii antigens in sera of individuals involved, we confirmed the presence of acute disease in 80.3% of cases, as well as chronic, i.e. convalescent disease in 19.7% of cases.