Coxiella burnetii infection in pregnant and aborted women: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESComplications of Q fever infection during pregnancy have been overlooked worldwide, with health systems paying little attention to this issue. Therefore, this study aimed to provide evidence regarding the association between Q fever infection and its effects on human abortion.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe conducted an extensive search of English electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering the period from ۱۹۹۳ to ۲۰۲۱. The search strategy involved using specific keywords related to "Coxiella burnetii" or "Q fever" in conjunction with "pregnancy," "pregnant," "women," "miscarriage," "humans," or "abortion" in the title or abstract.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONA comprehensive analysis of ۲۵ research papers was conducted in this review. The overall pooled seroprevalence of C. burnetii was found to be ۱۱.۱۰% (۹۵% CI: ۶.۰۶-۱۳.۱۳) among the studied population. Notably, women with a history of abortion showed a higher seropositivity rate (۱۳.۶۸%), which was statistically significant (OR: ۱.۵۸, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۲۴-۲.۰۲) compared to women without a history of abortion (۱۲.۶۶%). Furthermore, the pooled molecular prevalence of C. burnetii was observed to be ۰.۳۰%. Among women with a history of acute Q fever, the detection rates using culture and PCR methods were ۳۵.۶۱% and ۱۳.۹۷%, respectively. These findings show the prevalence and associations of C. burnetii infection in pregnant and aborted women, emphasizing the importance of further research in this area.CONCLUSIONGiven the risks posed by Q fever infection during pregnancy, as well as the obstetric complications associated with this disease, there is an urgent need for the health system to Q fever, particularly in regions where the disease is endemic.

کلیدواژه ها:

Coxiella burnetii ، Q fever ، Pregnancy ، Abortion ، Women.