[Q-fever in the Zadar region].

The occurrence of Q fever in a population of Zadar region (2787 km2) which has five microregions (Zadar, Benkovac, Biograd, Obrovac and Pag microregion) is presented. In 1986, nine cases of Q fever were reported. Five patients were detected in Zadar community, one in Pag microregion and 3 in Biograd community and microregion, respectively. In 1989, two cases in Zadar and, in 1988 and 1991, one case in each year from the territory of Zadar were found. A total of 13 cases of Q fever were treated and reported. The personnel of the Zadar Veterinary Stations were not able to provide information since blood samples from the suspected animals were not taken. The agent was therefore not isolated. It is known that there were more serologically proven cases of Q fever, but they were not registered by the Epidemiologic Service of the Zadar Department for Health Protection. Clinical manifestation in a form of pulmonary affection is a very significant data in this zoonosis and it is therefore most commonly detected at the hospital departments for lung diseases, what was one of the reasons for undertaking this study.