Immunologic evidence of human fetal infection with Coxiella burneti.

Immunologic evidence of human fetal infection with Coxiella burneti is presented. Cord sera obtained from normal newborns in an area of high Q fever endemicity, the United Arab Republic, were shown to have high antibody titers against C. burneti and elevated IgM levels. Absorption of the sera with C. burneti antigen removed all detectable specific antibody activity and reduced the IgM level to accepted normal limits.