A Point-of-Care Assay for the Detection of Coxiella Burnetii (Q fever) Infection in Soldiers Deployed to Iraq

The objective of this study is to develop a robust, field deployable, and a cost effective rapid screening assay for the detection of Q fever infection caused by Coxiella burnetii using human blood and sera. The test will utilize a lateral flow based immunochromatographic system (dipstick). The proposed assay would be a very useful screening tool to assess Q fever infection in the fields, in remote areas, and in a low complexity situation. Such a test would facilitate diagnosis and a treatment for military personnel presenting febrile illness. A rapid assay would also help in Q fever eradication programs. In this Phase I study we will develop/acquire antibody and antigen reagents for use in development of prototype Q fever detection assays. We will then construct prototype assays that will be evaluated using archived samples from infected individuals. Further development of the assay would take place in a Phase II proposal.