An outbreak of cat-associated Q fever in the United States

Article Abstract:

Q fever is a condition caused by infection with the rickettsial organism Coxiella burnetii. It is characterized by headache, fever, severe sweating, discomfort, muscle pain, and loss of appetite. The disease is transmitted by inhaling infected dust, ingestion of unpasteurized milk from infected animals, or physical contact with infected animals, such as sheep, goats, and cows. C. burnetii is present in high amounts in pregnant animals, specifically in the placenta, the tissue that provides nutrition to the fetus; the amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus; and other birth-related tissues and fluids. This organism is resistant to environmental breakdown and drying, and is easily transmitted during the births of sheep, cattle, or goats. Transmission of Q fever was reported to occur after exposure to products of cat births in Canada. An outbreak of cat-associated Q fever in the United States is described. A 66-year-old woman developed high fever, rigors, headache, muscle pain, pulmonary edema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs), and elevated liver enzymes. Blood tests confirmed that she had Q fever. The patient and 10 other family members attended a family reunion and later developed symptoms of Q fever. At the reunion, they were exposed to a cat that was giving birth. C. burnetii was detected in blood samples of 10 persons who attended the family reunion, but not in those of 8 family members who did not go to the reunion. Those with positive blood tests were over 10 years of age. Three of four young family members (under four years) did not develop symptoms of Q fever after they attended the reunion. Parturient, or birthing cats should be considered a source of transmission of Q fever. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Causes of, Disease transmission, Domestic cats, Cats, Rickettsial diseases, Q fever

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Circulating immune complex-associated parasite antigens in human onchocerciasis

Article Abstract:

River blindness, caused by the parasite Onchocerca volvulus, affects more than 20 million people in Africa and Latin America. The parasite carrier is infected black flies of the genus Simulium. The infected flies transmit O. volvulus larvae by biting the skin. Adults develop over a period of months, and the adult female produces microfilariae, which reside in the dermis and cause inflammation. Subsequently, when feeding, the flies pick up the microfilariae and complete the life cycle. Except for the subcutaneous nodules formed in the skin, or blindness, which occurs if the eye is invaded, O. volvulus infection (onchocerciasis) is virtually asymptomatic. Diagnosis by means other than skin biopsy is not readily accomplished. The detection of parasitic antigens would be a suitable means of diagnosing onchocerciasis, and would make it possible to evaluate vector control, epidemiology, and treatment of the infection. The authors describe O. volvulus antigens, which were recently identified and partially characterized. Immune complexes were separated from human antigens and further analyzed by immunoblot techniques. Specimens were obtained from patients with onchocerciasis. A specific parasite antigen, known as 23-kDa, was isolated from 17 of 23 Nigerian patients and 5 of 10 endemic controls. This antigen was not found in sera from Nigerian or US nonendemic controls, or from patients with other parasitic infections or autoimmune diseases. This antigen may be used in the development of an antigenic diagnostic test for O. volvulus infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Demographic aspects, Identification and classification, Onchocerciasis, Parasite antigens

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