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Volume 17, Number 12—December 2011
Letter

Q Fever in Woolsorters, Belgium

Pierre WattiauComments to Author , Eva Boldisova, Rudolf Toman, Marjan Van Esbroeck, Sophie Quoilin, Samia Hammadi, Hervé Tissot-Dupont, Didier Raoult, Jean-Marie Henkinbrant, Mieke Van Hessche, and David Fretin
Author affiliations: Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre, Brussels, Belgium (P. Wattiau, M. Van Hessche, D. Fretin); Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia (E. Boldisova, R. Toman); Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium (M. Van Esbroeck); Institute of Public Health, Brussels (S. Quoilin, S. Hammadi); Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France (H. Tissot-Dupont, D. Raoult); Occupational Health Medicine Group Provikmo, Verviers, Belgium (J.-M. Henkinbrant)

Main Article

Table

Serologic results for Q fever in woolsorters, Belgium, 2007–2009*

Serologic status ELISA† (years 1–3) IFA‡ (year 3) Confirmed§ (years 1–3)
No. negative 29 27 34
No. nonspecifically reactive NA 9 NA
No. with past infection 31 31 26
No. with recent or active infection 7 NA 8
No. with chronic infection 2 2 1
% Seroreactive 57.9 47.8 50.7

*IFA, immunofluorescent assay; NA, not applicable.
†Conducted on samples collected annually for 3 y. Serologic titer for chronic Q fever: phase I IgG >12,800 and > phase II IgG; for recent or active infection, phase II IgG >1,600 and phase II IgM >800; for past infections, phase II IgG >1,600 and phase II IgM <800.
‡Conducted on paired samples in cases of suspected or noninterpretable initial results; conducted on single samples in all other cases. Serologic status was defined at year 3 according to the instructions of the test kit manufacturer (Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, USA).
§Workers with test results above the threshold at least once over a 3-y period by ELISA and IFA. Serologic status was adjusted on the basis of the 3-y projection and retesting in the reference laboratory in France.

Main Article

Page created: November 18, 2011
Page updated: November 18, 2011
Page reviewed: November 18, 2011
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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