ABSTRACT
Serial sera from four mongrel cats experimentally inoculated with infectious larvae of Dirofilaria immitis were analyzed by immunoblot patterns against a phosphate buffered saline-extract of D. immitis. Antigen-specific protein bands detected indicate that the low molecular weight bands of 36, 32, 22, 19 and 14 kDa, are predictable for positive adult worm infection, suggesting diagnostic usefulness for adult D. immitis infection in cats.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Helminth/blood , Cat Diseases/parasitology , Dirofilaria immitis/isolation & purification , Dirofilariasis/diagnosis , Animals , Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Blotting, Western/veterinary , Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Cat Diseases/immunology , Cats , Dirofilariasis/immunology , Dirofilariasis/parasitology , Female , MaleABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is involved in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we administered tetracycline antibiotics to subjects with CFS, and followed changes in clinical symptoms, PCR findings, and C. burnetii antibody titers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 8 patients with CFS and 213 with nonspecific complaints such as chronic fatigue and low-grade fever for several months or longer but not meeting the diagnostic criteria for CFS. All were examined for C. burnetii infection by nested PCR and the indirect immunofluorescence test (IF). RESULTS: Four CFS patients (the CFS group) and 54 controls [the post-Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) group] positive for C. burnetii were treated mainly with minocycline or doxycycline (100 mg/day) for 3 months. After treatment, all 58 patients tested negative for C. burnetii infection. In the CFS group, no significant difference was noted between the mean pre- and post-treatment temperatures or headache scores. Similarly, there was no significant improvement in performance status (PS) scores. In the QFS group, however, mean temperatures and headache scores were significantly decreased after treatment (p<0.001). PS scores were also improved. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the possibility of direct involvement of C. burnetii in the pathological state of CFS to be low, despite the C. burnetii infection rate being high in CFS patients. This is a pilot study and further larger investigations are necessary to confirm our preliminary results.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Coxiella burnetii , Doxycycline/therapeutic use , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/drug therapy , Minocycline/therapeutic use , Ofloxacin/therapeutic use , Q Fever/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Child , Coxiella burnetii/genetics , Coxiella burnetii/immunology , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/etiology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Q Fever/drug therapy , Q Fever/microbiology , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To address the presence of post-Q fever fatigue syndrome (post-QFS) in Japan, and to evaluate the efficacy of minocycline for this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 20 Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) seropositive patients with persistent nonspecific symptoms including general fatigue, low-grade fever, myalgia and arthralgia, changes in subjective symptoms, C. burnetii antibody titers and C. burnetii DNA were evaluated after antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: After treatment mainly with minocycline (100 mg/day for 3 months), the clinical picture improved in all 20 patients as evidenced by decreases in body temperature (13/17), general fatigue (20/20) and headache (9/12). The mean performance status (PS) score improved from 5.0 to 1.8 (p<0.01). All 7 who had been positive for C. burnetii DNA, became negative together with an improvement in subjective symptoms. Indirect immunofluorescence tests demonstrated 6 of the 20 patients to be positive for C. burnetii IgM antibody to phase II antigen (1:32), and 18 to be positive for IgG antibody (1:128, 1:256). Antibody titers of both IgM (6/6, 1:16) and IgG (18/18, 1:16) decreased markedly after treatment. CONCLUSION: These results of an open label study in Japan suggest that minocycline administration is useful for improving chronic nonspecific symptoms considered to be post-Q fever fatigue syndrome caused by C. burnetii infection.
