[Clinical and serologic study of Czecho-Slovak citizens working in developing countries from the aspect of risk of infection with Coxiella burnetii].

In the years 1984-1988 we observed, besides the routine examinations of history, clinical state, and laboratory tests, also the presence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii antigens by means of microagglutination reaction (MAR). The examinations were performed in our citizens returning to Czecho-Slovakia from a long termed business stay in the developing countries. Antibodies to C. burnetii antigen 2 have been detected entirely in 91 serum samples, out of which 48 cases following their stay in Libya, 42 cases following their stay in Iraq, and 1 in Syria. Diagnostically significant antibody titres (64) were detected in 44 serum samples, in which the serological positivity was proved by complement fixation test (CFT) examination. Clinical symptoms in the history, responding to the acute form of "Q" fever, occurred in 44 serologically positive cases, 37 of which developed high antibody titres, which is considered to be a significantly high incidence. The results imply the necessity to become more concerned by the incidence of "Q" fever, its diagnostics and therapy, eventually prevention in our citizens working in a more exacting climate of some developing countries. (Tab. 1, Ref. 15.).