Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to the chlamydia-like microorganism 'Simkania Z' by ELISA

The newly described microorganism 'Simkania Z', related to the Chlamydiae, has been shown to be associated with bronchiolitis in infants and community acquired pneumonia in adults. The prevalence of infection in the general p opulation is unknown. A simple ELISA assay for the detection of serum IgG a ntibodies to 'Simkania Z' was used to determine the prevalence of such anti bodies in several population samples in southern Israel (the Negev). The gr oups tested included 94 medical and nursing students, 100 unselected blood donors, 106 adult members of a Negev kibbutz (communal agricultural settlem ent), and 45 adult Bedouin, residents of the Negev. IgG antibodies to 'Simk ania Z' were found in 55-80 % of these presumably healthy individuals, inde pendently of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae. The Bedouin had a seropositivity rate of 80 %, while all other groups had r ates of between 55 and 64%. These results indicate that 'Simkania Z' infect ion is probably common in southern Israel.