Evaluation of the recombinant Heat shock protein B (HspB) of Coxiella burnetii as a potential antigen for immunodiagnostic of Q fever in goats

Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular bacterium that causes a worldwide zoonosis, the Q fever. Currently, to diagnose the infection in ruminants, whole cell antigens-based ELISAs are used.In this study a heat shock protein, the HspB, was evaluated for its ability to be recognized by the goat immune system and its capacity to sign a stage of infection. The htpB gene of C. burnetii was cloned and sequenced. A high identity (>90%) was observed among the htpB genes of four ruminant strains tested. A recombinant protein was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. The rHspB protein was used to determine the IgG reactivity by ELISA. Sera from experimentally and naturally infected goats were tested. The rHspB is recognized early during the infection course, at 18 days post-infection. Moreover, 80–90% of the animals tested were positive at 39–60 dpi. In addition, animals presenting a reactivation of the infection displayed a higher reactivity, statistically significant (p < 0.05), than that of the animals in latent infection. These findings suggest that the rHspB could be a good candidate for the development of an ELISA test making possible the detection of recent C. burnetii infection in goats as well as reactivation in those with latent infection.