Open AccessDetection of Coxiella burnetii specific DNA in blood samples from Japanese patients with chronic nonspecific symptoms by nested polymerase chain reaction
Author(s) -
Kato Kimitoshi,
Arashima Yasutomo,
Asai Satoshi,
Furuya Yumiko,
Yoshida Yoshiya,
Murakami Masato,
Takahashi Yasuo,
Hayashi Kuniki,
Katayama Takashi,
Kumasaka Kazunari,
Arakawa Yasuyuki,
Kawano Kinya
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1998.tb01159.x
Subject(s) - coxiella burnetii , nested polymerase chain reaction , q fever , polymerase chain reaction , biology , immunology , virology , medicine , gene , genetics
The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for direct species‐specific detection of Coxiella burnetii in blood samples from 52 patients with chronic nonspecific symptoms, but no diagnostic or treatment history of Q fever. All patients had been in ill‐health with general fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, etc., for one to more than 10 years. Seventeen (33%) showed evidence of C. burnetii infection, based on amplification of 438‐bp fragments specific to C. burnetii by nested PCR, and 94% of positive patients reported close contact with animals. In contrast, five (9.6%) of 52 samples from healthy adult controls and two (2.8%) of 70 cord blood samples were positive by nested PCR. These data suggest a high prevalence of infection among adult patients with long term, nonspecific complaints who live in close contact with animals and the possible existence of a chronic post‐acute Q fever syndrome in Japan.