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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, Mar 1997, 208-212, Vol 4, No. 2
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Serological cross-reactions between Coxiella burnetii and Legionella micdadei

D Musso and D Raoult
Unite des Rickettsies, Faculte de Medecine, CNRS EP J 0054, Marseille, France.

Coxiella burnetii and Legionella micdadei are both gram-negative bacteria potentially responsible for identical clinical syndromes resembling upper respiratory infections. These infections, quite common in immunocompromised patients, are usually diagnosed by serology with a microimmunofluorescence assay. We found that 34.5% of Q fever patients had a significant titer of antibodies against L. micdadei. Cross- reactions involved immunoglobulin G antibodies and were demonstrated by a cross-adsorption study and protein immunoblotting. Western blot analysis performed after treatment with proteinase K indicated that cross-reactions were probably due to both protein and lipopolysaccharide antigens. It is critical that the existence of this cross-reaction be recognized, as misdiagnosis of either condition may lead to incorrect and ineffective treatment.

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