Short Communication: Prevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) in children in The Gambia, West Africa

作者：van der Hoek Wim^*; Sarge Njie Ramu; Herremans Tineke; Chisnall Thomas; Okebe Joseph; Oriero Eniyou; Versteeg Bart; Goossens Bart; van der Sande Marianne; Kampmann Beate; Nwakanma Davis

来源：Tropical Medicine and International Health, 2013, 18(7): 850-853.

DOI：10.1111/tmi.12116

• Q fever
• Coxiella burnetii
• seroprevalence
• fever
• Gambia

Objective To estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) among children in eight villages in The Gambia, West Africa. Methods Sera of 796 children aged 1-15years were tested for presence of antibodies against phase II of C.burnetii by ELISA. Results IgG and/or IgM phase II antibodies against C.burnetii were detectable in 8.3% (66/796) of all serum samples analysed with significant differences in seroprevalence between villages. Highest prevalence was found in the age group 1-4years. Conclusions Exposure to C.burnetii is considerable in the early years of life in The Gambia, and further studies are warranted to estimate the role of Q fever in acute febrile illness in The Gambia and elsewhere in Africa.

• 出版日期2013-7