The investigation of brucella and coxiella burnetii antibodies with serological methods in risk groups

In this study, Brucella and Coxiella burnetii antibodies were investigated among risk and control groups living in Gaziantep between October 2010 and July 2011. Questionnaires were applied to participants to get information about their age, sex, symptoms and risk factors. The presence of brucella antibodies was investigated by microagglutination Test and Brucellacapt Test. By Brucellacapt Test, ?1/40 titre was accepted as being in contact with brucella agent and ?1/160 titre was accepted as positive in the diagnosis of brucellosis serological. C. burnetii Phase II IgM and IgG antibodies were investigated by ELISA test. The samples, which were determined as positive and/or equivocal by ELISA, were confirmed by IFA test. Risk group was composed of 83 (27.7%) farmers, 82 (27.3%) butchers, 66 (22%) laboratory staff, 60 (20%) slaughterers, and 91 (3%) veterinarians. Control group was composed of the 110 (36.7%) housewives, 105 (35%) tradesmen, and 85 (28.3%) officers. According to results, 22% of the risk group and 14.7% of the control group were found to have been in contact with brucella, and 6.7% of the risk group and 2.7% of the control group were diagnosed to have brucellosis serological. The difference of brucella antibody positivity between risk and control groups was statistically significant both in participants having contact or brucellosis serological with brucella (p=0.020 and p=0.020). Coxiella burnetii Phase II IgM and IgG antibodies were detected 2% and 40% in risk group, and 0.7% and 37.3% in control group, respectively. The difference of C. burnetii Phase II antibodies between the groups was statistically insignificant both for IgM and IgG (p=0.285 and p=0.502). We suppose that, this study performed to investigate the seroprevalence of brucellosis and Q fever in Gaziantep among risk and control groups will make a useful contribution to the present epidemiological data.