Detection of Antibodies against Viral Agents and Atypical Bacteria in the Serum of Patients with Respiratory Infections, State of Zulia, Venezuela, 2005-2010

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of serum antibodies against respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria in patients with respiratory infections in the State of Zulia, Venezuela, between January 2005 and December 2010. Two-hundred eighty-three (283) serum samples from those patients were analyzed. Patients were classified according to age as: 1 to 23 months, 2 to 6 years, 7 to 14, 15 to 19, 20 to 40, 41 to 64 and 65 years old and over. Seric IgM against viral agents (Adenovirus, Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, Influenza A and B and respiratory syncytial virus: RSV) and atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila serotype 1, Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) were determined by indirect immunofluorescence. Of the 283 samples, 113 were seropositive; no co-infections were found. The most frequently found agent was RSV (27/113; 23.89%; p<0.01), followed by Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 (19/113; 16.81%; p<0.001). Adenovirus (16/113; 14.16%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (15/113; 13.27%), Parainfluenza 1, 2 3 (14/113; 12.40%), Influenza A and B (13/113; 11.5%), Coxiella burnetii (6/113; 5.31%) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (3/113; 2.65%) were less frequent. Young and middle-aged adults were the most affected. In conclusion, respiratory viruses cause a great part of the infections in the analyzed population; however, it is important to note the high frequency of atypical bacteria in the region.

Keywords

• Infección Respiratoria
• Bacterias Atípicas
• Virus Respiratorios
• IgM
• Estado Zulia