Detection of Q fever antibodies in whey by the anti-globulin sensitization test and other techniques

The geographical distribution of Q fever

The results of a WHO-assisted survey of the distribution of Q fever in 32 countries and an analysis of reports published to date indicate that Q fever exists in 51 countries on five continents. Q-fever infection was most often reported in man and the domestic ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, and goats.The disease was found to exist in most countries where investigations were carried out. Notable exceptions were Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the Scandinavian countries. With the exception of Poland, where the results were inconclusive, all these countries import relatively few domestic ruminants-the most important animal reservoirs of human Q-fever infection. It seems, therefore, that the traffic of infected ruminants may be one of the most important, if not the most important, means for the geographical spread of Q fever. The importance, if any, of ticks associated with such traffic needs to be defined.

Variation in complement-fixing activity of Rickettsia burneti during egg adaptation

1. The haemolytic complement-fixation test and the conglutinating complement-absorption test, as well as the agglutination reaction and the antiglobulin sensitization test, have been used to study a change which occurs during egg adaptation of the Christie strain of R. burneti.

2. Antigens were prepared from yolk sacs of the third to the ninth passages inclusive. Irrespective of numbers of rickettsiae, antigens from the third and fourth passage failed to fix complement with homologous (human) antiserum, unless the latter was in very low dilution. From the fifth passage, however, antigens fixed complement with high dilutions of the same antiserum and thus resembled the classical Henzerling strain antigen.

3. Third-passage antigen failed to fix conglutinating as well as haemolytic complement with high serum dilutions. The agglutination reaction and antiglobulin test, however, showed that third-passage antigen absorbed antibody almost as well as ninth-passage and Henzerling strain antigens.

4. It was not possible to find out if the change in behaviour was due to a true antigenic variation or to non-specific hindrance of complement absorption. Heating failed to alter the behaviour of the antigens and the results of absorption tests were inconclusive.

The origin of urinary antibodies

1. Antibodies to the flagellar antigens of salmonellae are frequently present in the urine of Egyptians.

2. In many individuals, who are not urinary carriers but have schistosomiasis and have received T.A.B. vaccine, these urinary antibodies are derived from the plasma due to exudation or bleeding into the urinary tract.

3. In urinary enteric carriers, the urinary antibodies are due, at least in part, to the local production or release of antibodies within the urinary tract, as shown by the ratios of urine titre to serum titre with different H suspensions.

4. The production of antibodies within the urinary tract is considered to be an example of production or liberation of antibody by cells at, or close to, the site of infection.