Clinical, virological, and pathological findings in a fatal case of Q fever endocarditis
Open Access
- 1 May 1962
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Clinical Pathology
- Vol. 15 (3), 235-241
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.15.3.235
Abstract
A case resembling subacute bacterial endocarditis in which blood cultures were repeatedly negative is described. The patient had had an influenza-like illness nine months before admission to hospital followed by intervening vague illness and loss of weight. Serological tests revealed a high titre of complement-fixing antibodies to phase 1 and phase 2 antigens of Rickettsia burneti. After death R. burneti was isolated from the diseased aortic valve, liver, and kidneys. Bodies morphologically resembling rickettsiae were seen in the aortic valve and in a very few renal tubule cells. No specific pathological lesions were found but there was a widespread stimulation of reticulo-endothelial cells particularly in the aortic valve cusps, spleen, lymph nodes, and renal glomeruli. It is suggested that tests for Q fever should be carried out in suspected cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis when blood culture is negative.Keywords
This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Case of Subacute Rickettsial Endocarditis; with a Survey of Cardiac Patients for this InfectionBMJ, 1960
- CHRONIC Q FEVER WITH MITRAL-VALVE ENDOCARDITISThe Lancet, 1960
- Chronic Q Fever: 1. Clinical Aspects of a Patient with EndocarditisBMJ, 1959
- FATAL ENDOCARDITIS ASSOCIATED WITH Q FEVERThe Lancet, 1959
- Epidemiology of Q Fever in Great BritainBMJ, 1958
- PHASE VARIATION OF THE NINE MILE AND OTHER STRAINS OF RICKETTSIA BURNETICanadian Journal of Microbiology, 1956
- Q FEVER IN GREAT BRITAIN: AN ANALYSIS OF 69 SPORADIC CASES, WITH A STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF INFECTION IN HUMANS AND COWSThe Lancet, 1953
- EFFECT OF CORTICOTROPHIN ON CHRONIC, SEVERE PRIMARY THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURAArchives of Internal Medicine, 1951
- Q FEVER IN CALIFORNIAA.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine, 1951
- Necropsy Findings in a Case of Q Fever in BritainBMJ, 1950