INVESTIGAÇõES SÔBRE A FEBRE "Q" EM SÃO PAULO. I - ESTUDO SOROLÓGICO EM OPERÁRIOS DE UM FRIGORÍFICO

Abstract

This work has been planned having in mind the possible demonstration of the existence of "Q" fever en São Paulo. It deals only with the preliminary phase of our work, which is a serological survey made mainly among slaughter and packing house workers. It has been extended much further but we fell that only these results hereto presented are sufficient to arouse interest on the subject. A total of 643 sera were submitted to complement fixation tests in acordance with Bengston technique, using "Q" fever antigens, supplied by Lederle Laboratories. We have had some positive tests with low titers and a few with high ones. All the positive tests were repeated using normal yolk-sae antigens, these precautions being taken due to the fact this is a new problem, thus eliminating all possible causes of faulty technique. A very important event was the fact that, one of us (H.B.), at this phase of the work, having gome to the U.S., had the opportunity to see some of the positive sera and some of the negative, being repeated at the Department of Microbiology, Harvard School of Public Health, by extreme interest and kindiness of Drs. John C. Snyder and Edward S. Murrary. We noticed a perfect confirmation of results, except in one case. the positivity of which was due to epidemic typhus antibodies most surely. Two sera were positive at 1:40 titer, which should be regarded as significant. The other positive sera are at the border-line of significance. We think we can conclude for a serological evidence of the existence of "Q" fever among us. Other phases of our works will be presented in the near future.