European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · May 2007
Review Case ReportsQ fever osteoarticular infection: four new cases and a review of the literature.
Q fever is a worldwide-occurring zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Better knowledge of the disease and of evolving diagnostics can enable recognition of unusual manifestations. Reported here are four cases of Q fever osteoarticular infections in adults: two cases of Q fever tenosynovitis, which represent the first two reports of this infection, and two cases of Q fever spondylodiscitis complicated by paravertebral abscess. ⋯ The main differential diagnosis is mycobacterial infection, based on the histological granulomatous presentation of lesions. Whereas serology is the reference diagnostic method for Q fever, detection of C. burnetii in tissue specimens by PCR and cell culture provides useful additional evidence of infection. Culture-negative osteoarticular samples with granulomatous presentation upon histological examination should raise suspicion of Q fever.