IS PLASMID BASED DIFFERENTIATION OF COXIELLA-BURNETII IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC ISOLATES STILL VALID

Ten human Coxiella burnetii isolates from french patients with acute h epatitis or chronic endocarditis were characterized according to their polymorphism in DNA restriction patterns and differentiated by plasmi d-specific PCR. The aim of this investigation was to clarify if the pr esent classification of so called 'acute' and 'chronic' Coxiella burne tii isolates - based on plasmid profile of a so far limited number of partly ancient isolates - could be confirmed with lately isolated orga nisms of this agent. The data obtained in this investigation indicate that this classification based on C. burnetii plasmid content is no lo nger justified.