Affiliation:
1. Unité des Rickettsies, Faculté de Médecine, CNRS EP J 0054, Marseille, France.
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii and Legionella micdadei are both gram-negative bacteria potentially responsible for identical clinical syndromes resembling upper respiratory infections. These infections, quite common in immunocompromised patients, are usually diagnosed by serology with a microimmunofluorescence assay. We found that 34.5% of Q fever patients had a significant titer of antibodies against L. micdadei. Cross-reactions involved immunoglobulin G antibodies and were demonstrated by a cross-adsorption study and protein immunoblotting. Western blot analysis performed after treatment with proteinase K indicated that cross-reactions were probably due to both protein and lipopolysaccharide antigens. It is critical that the existence of this cross-reaction be recognized, as misdiagnosis of either condition may lead to incorrect and ineffective treatment.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Microbiology (medical),Clinical Biochemistry,Immunology,Immunology and Allergy
Cited by
65 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献