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Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain (1984–2004): A Hyperendemic Area of Q Fever
Author(s) -
MONTES M.,
CILLA G.,
VICENTE D.,
NIETO V.,
ERCIBENGOA M.,
PEREZTRALLERO E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1374.020
Subject(s) - incidence (geometry) , pneumonia , titer , medicine , pediatrics , q fever , demography , virology , physics , virus , optics , sociology
Overall 1,261 cases of Q fever were diagnosed between 1984 and 2004 in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain). Most (75.5%) of the cases ocurred in subjects 15–45 years of age. A total of 79.5% of the cases ( n = 1003) ocurred between January and June. The annual incidence for acute Q fever in Gipuzkoa was 7.7, 15.8, 9.6, and 5.7 for the periods 1984–1989, 1990–1994, 1995–1999, and 2000–2004, respectively. In 94% of the cases IgM titer was ≥1/256. The most frequent clinical manifestation was pneumonia (79%). Only two cases of chronic Q fever were detected during the 21 years studied.