[Prevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii in a healthy population in Lanzarote (Canary Islands)].

1991; National Institutes of Health; Volume: 8; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

Autores

F Pascual Velasco, I Otero Ferrio, M V Borobio Enciso,

Tópico(s)

Viral Infections and Vectors

Resumo

The Canary Islands area now appears to be a Q-fever endemic zone, especially the west side (La Palma island). The situation in the eastern islands in unknown. In order to evaluate the seric prevalence of Coxiella burnetii, 100 serum samples that were taken from the adult population of Lanzarote and, following strict criteria, were analysed using a complement fixation test; blood donors and patients who had suffered a recent infection were excluded. The study was carried out during November/1986. Three serum samples were positive, one had titers of 1/8 and the other two showed 1/64. This prevalence rate of residual Coxiella burnetii antibodies in Lanzarote (3%)--despite being low compared to other areas in Spain--together with te recent cases described, confirms the suspicion that the Canary Islands area is indeed a new endemic Q-fever zone.

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