Creating standards for absolute quantification of Coxiella burnetii in real-time PCR--a comparative study based on transmission electron microscopy.

Quantitative standards are a prerequisite for quality control and quantification of pathogens. In this study the creation of quantitative standards for use in qPCR is described using the pathogen Coxiella burnetii. Quantification of Coxiella burnetii particles by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used as primary standard and compared with data obtained by light microscopy as well as genome equivalents (GE) and plasmid units (recombinant plasmid).

Q fever outbreak in a goat herd--diagnostic investigations and measures for control.

This is a case report about a Q fever infection of a goat herd with abortions and excretions of pathogens accompanied by human infection and disease. Following a diagnosis of Q fever in a goat herd, all animals were vaccinated with an inactivated phase 1 vaccine. The herd was kept isolated and animals were neither removed nor introduced so that monitoring of the course of the Q fever infection of the individual dam was possible.

Quantitative real-time PCR and phase specific serology are mutually supportive in Q fever diagnostics in goats.

This study presents results of quantitative pathogen detection by real-time PCR (qPCR) and phase-specific serology for complete Q fever diagnostics. For this, samples of 42 goats in total were taken during a Q fever outbreak. In the early phase of the Q-fever infection, 10(4)-10(8)Coxiella (C.