A preliminary report of relationship between abortion and Q fever in Central Black Sea Region Turkish woman

Abstract

Aim. Q fever, which is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, may result in abortions in infected animals and pregnant women. In our study, we searched the association between Q fever serology and abortion in a region where Q fever is endemic. Method. This study was conducted in Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital between March and May 2012. A total of 100 women, from these, 64 had a history of spontaneus abortion (cases) and 36 had live births with no complicated obstetrics history or complicated partum (controls), enrolled in the study. Both groups were compared according to where they live, underlying diseases, contact with farm animals or pets and village connectivity. Results. IgG seroprevalence of Coxiella in our study group with the history of abortion was 15.6%, and 11.1% in the control group (p>0.05). When case and control groups were compared, the frequency of inhabitants of the village (p=0.012), subjects who had contact with farm animals [p=0.026, especially cattle (p=0.013)] or domestic animals (p=0.018) in case group were more common than the control group. When all the samples were analyzed, it was seen that the only significant variable affecting Coxiella IgG seropositivity was residency in rural area or visiting rural area (p=0.018). Conclusions. We have found that the relation between abortion and Q fever infection was not statistically significant. On this issue, multicenter studies which have the higher number of samples are needed in our country.

Keywords: Q fever, spontaneous abortions, endemic region

Özet

Amaç. Q ateşi Coxiella burnetii tarafından oluşturulan bir zoonozdur. Q ateşi gebe hayvanlarda ve gebe kadınlarda abortusa neden olabilir. Biz bu çalışmamızda Q ateşi için endemik bir bölgede Q ateşi seropozitifliği ve abortus arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırdık. Yöntem. Bu çalışma Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi Hastanesinde Mart 2012-Mayıs 2012 tarihleri arasında yürütüldü. Çalışmaya 18 yaş üzerinde toplam 100 kadın dahil edildi. Bunların 64’ünün spontan abortus hikayesi pozitif (vaka grubu) iken 36’sının hiç komplikasyonlu gebelik veya doğum hikayesi yoktu (kontrol grubu). Her iki grup yaşadıkları yer, altta yatan hastalıkları, çiflik hayvanı veya evcil hayvanlarla temas ve köy yaşantısı ile ilişki açısından karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular. Vaka grubunda Coxiella lgG seropozitifliği %15,6 çıkarken kontrol grubunda %11,1 olarak saptandı, bu fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p>0,05). Vaka grubu kontrol grubuyla karşılaştırıldığında köyde yaşama (p=0,012), çiftlik hayvanları ile temas [p=0,026; özellikle koyun (p=0,013)] veya evcil hayvanlarla temas (p=0,018) vaka grubunda anlamlı derecede daha yüksek saptandı. Tüm örnekler analiz edildiğinde Coxiella IgG seropozitifliğini etkileyen en önemli değişken kırsal alanda yaşama veya kırsal yaşamla ilişkili olma olarak bulundu (p=0,018). Sonuç. Çalışmanın sonucunda Q ateşi ile abortus arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunamadı. Bu çalışma bu konuyla ilgili ülkemizde yapılmış ilk çalışma olmakla birlikte çok merkezli ve yüksek örneklem sayılı çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar sözcükler: Q ateşi, spontan abortus, endemik hastalık

Objectives: Q fever, which is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, may result in abortions in infected animals and pregnant women. In our study, we searched  the association between Q fever serology and abortion in a region where Q fever is endemic.

Material and Methods: This study was conducted in Gaziosmanpasa University Hospital (Tokat, Turkey) between March and May 2012.  A total of 100 women, from these, 64 had a history of spontaneus abortion (cases) and 36 had live births with no complicated obstetrics history or complicated partum (controls), enrolled in the study.  Both groups were compared according to where they live, underlying diseases, contact with farm animals or pets and village connectivity.

Results: While IgG seroprevalence of Coxiella in our study group with the history of abortion  was  15.6%, it was 11.1% in the control group (p>0,05). When case and control groups were compared, we found that the frequency of inhabitants of the village (p=0.012), subjects who had contact with farm animals (p = 0.026, especially cattle (p=0.013)) or domestic animals (p=0.018) in case group were  more common than the control group. When all the samples were analyzed, it was seen that the only significant variable affecting Coxiella IgG seropositivity was residency in rural area or visiting rural area (p=0.018).

Conclusions: We have found that the relation between abortion and Q fever infection was not statistically significant. On this issue, multicenter studies which have the higher  number of samples are needed in our country.