Relevance of the positron emission tomography in the diagnosis of vascular graft infection with Coxiella burnetii

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012 Jan;35(1):45-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2011.09.010. Epub 2011 Oct 26.

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, may cause culture-negative vascular graft infections that can be diagnosed by serology and molecular biology. We present a case of vascular graft infection detected by positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. The presence of C. burnetii was confirmed by high antibody titers and positive polymerase chain reaction specific for C. burnetii. This report emphasizes the relevance of the PET scanner in the diagnosis of infection when used in association with Q fever serology and molecular biology for the etiological identification of C. burnetii.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / pathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / surgery*
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Coxiella burnetii / genetics
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / immunology
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / microbiology
  • Q Fever / diagnostic imaging*
  • Q Fever / immunology
  • Q Fever / microbiology
  • RNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis
  • Vascular Grafting*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S