#BMC-002
SUMMARY
Phase I and Phase II antigens of C. burnetii are essential for confirming Q fever infection and monitoring therapeutic outcomes in both humans and animals.
BACKGROUND
Q fever is an acute or chronic disease caused by the obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii. This pathogen is primarily transmitted to humans through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from infected animals. The pathogen affects the general population, but especially veterinarians, meat processing plant workers, dairy workers, livestock ranchers, and people living near farms or slaughterhouses. Immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing heart valve conditions are also at increased risk.
Unlike classical rickettsiae, C. burnetii is phylogenetically classified within the order Legionellales (class Gammaproteobacteria), in its own genus Coxiella. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as a priority pathogen due to emerging antimicrobial resistance. Due to its high infectivity and public health relevance, Q fever is a notifiable disease in many countries under directives such as 2009/99/EC..
FEATURES AND KEY BENEFITS
- Designed for the detection of antibodies against C.burnetii in human and animal serum samples.
- Compatible with multiple serological techniques according to customer preference, including microagglutination reaction, complement-fixation test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and indirect immunofluorescence assay.
- Phase I antigens – useful for confirmation and follow up of chronic Q fever
- Phase II antigens – useful for detecting elevated antibody levels approximately 10 days post-infection, enabling early diagnosis of acute Q fever.
- Rabbit sera (negative or positive for specific antibodies) available for use as controls.
Antigens are produced under GLP certification using internally protected technology.
AVAILABLE
for non-exclusive licencing or research collaboration
CONTACT
Ludovit Skultety, Institute of Virology BMC SAS, viruludo@savba.sk,
REFERENCES
[1] Palkovicová K, Flores-Ramírez G, Quevedo-Diaz M, Csicsay F, Skultety L. Innovative antigens for more accurate diagnosis of Q fever. J Microbiol Methods. 2025 Jul;232-234:107106. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2025.107106.
