Molecular Evidence and Risk Factors of Coxiella Burnetii Among Seropositive High-Risk Individuals in the Center of Iran Publisher Pubmed



Nokhodian Z¹ ; Feizi A² ; Khalili M³ ; Ataei B⁴ ; Moradi A⁵
Source: Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Published:2018

Abstract

This study evaluated the prevalence of C. burnetii DNA in blood samples of the high-risk population in central Iran. In spring 2015, a nested PCR was applied to detect C. burnetii DNA in 173 blood samples from seropositive high-risk individuals in Isfahan County. A checklist was used for extracting data. Univariate tests and multivariable binary logistic regression were performed to analyze the data and P values < 0.05 were considered significant. In total, 9.83% of the samples were positive and an association was found between the prevalence of C. burnetii DNA and the presence of IgG antibodies against phase I and/or II (P = 0.04) in univariate analysis. However, in multivariable logistic regression model, no risk factor was seen. This study revealed that high-risk populations in Isfahan County had been exposed to C. burnetii. This can alert health policymakers to the possibility of a Q fever epidemic in the region. © 2018