Q fever: a neglected zoonosis in Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objectives: Infection due to Coxiella burnetii (C burnetii), the causative agent of Q fever is rarely sought for in clinical practice. This study was performed to detect C burnetii infection in patients with pyrexia of undetermined cause (PUC).

Design And Settings: This is a prospective study conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh be.

Modifications influencing Widal test reactivity in a novel microplate assay.

Reliability of the Widal tube agglutination test has been the subject of many controversies over the years. This study was performed to assess the effect of certain modifications on the performance of Widal test in a novel microplate assay. Sera from 37 patients (21 males; 16 females) (mean age 28 +/- 7 years) were tested in the Immunology Unit at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh.

Pattern of patch test reactivity among patients with clinical diagnosis of contact dermatitis: a hospital-based study.

Background And Objectives: Contact allergy is associated with a significant morbidity all over the world. This study was performed to investigate the pattern of sensitization by contact allergens in the local population.

Design And Setting: Retrospective study to investigate patch test reactivity among patients with clinical diagnosis of contact dermatitis who were referred to the allergy clinic at the King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, between April 2008 and March 2010.

Detection of Salmonella typhi agglutinins in sera of patients with other febrile illnesses and healthy individuals.

Background And Purpose: Widal test is frequently applied for the detection of Salmonella agglutinins to diagnose Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi infection. There are however a number of controversies challenging the diagnostic utility of this test. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Salmonella agglutinins in patients with other febrile illnesses and healthy blood donors.