Epidemiology of Q Fever

Molecular identification of Coxiella burnetii in raw milk samples collected from farm animals in districts Kasur and Lahore of Punjab, Pakistan

Coxiella burnetii is the worldwide zoonotic infectious agent for Q fever in humans and animals. Farm animals are the main reservoirs of C. burnetii infection, which is mainly transmitted via tick bites. In humans, oral, percutaneous, and respiratory routes are the primary sources of infection transmission. The clinical signs vary from flu-like symptoms to endocarditis for humans' acute and chronic Q fever. While it is usually asymptomatic in livestock, abortion, stillbirth, infertility, mastitis, and endometritis are its clinical consequences. Infected farm animals shed C. burnetii in birth products, milk, feces, vaginal mucus, and urine. Milk is an important source of infection among foods of animal origin. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of C. burnetii in milk samples of dairy animals from two districts in Punjab, Pakistan, as it has not been reported there so far. Using a convenience sampling approach, the current study included 304 individual milk samples from different herds of cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep present on 39 farms in 11 villages in the districts of Kasur and Lahore. PCR targeting the IS1111 gene sequence was used for its detection. Coxiella burnetii DNA was present in 19 of the 304 (6.3%) samples. The distribution was 7.2% and 5.2% in districts Kasur and Lahore, respectively. The results showed the distribution in ruminants as 3.4% in buffalo, 5.6% in cattle, 6.7% in goats, and 10.6% in sheep. From the univariable analysis, the clinical signs of infection i.e. mastitis and abortion were analyzed for the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii. The obtained sequences were identical to the previously reported sequence of a local strain in district Lahore, Sahiwal and Attock. These findings demonstrated that the prevalence of C. burnetii in raw milk samples deserves more attention from the health care system and veterinary organizations in Kasur and Lahore of Punjab, Pakistan. Future studies should include different districts and human populations, especially professionals working with animals, to estimate the prevalence of C. burnetii.

Coxiellosis in Livestock: Epidemiology, Public Health Significance, and Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Ethiopia

Coxiellosis is a zoonotic disease that is prevalent globally and can pose significant challenges, especially in less developed countries like Ethiopia. Coxiella burnetii is responsible for causing an infection called Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in ruminants. Pneumonia and endocarditis are the only signs that characterize the acute and chronic forms of Q fever, respectively. Ruminants exhibit symptoms such as abortion during the later stages of pregnancy, impaired fertility, perinatal death, premature delivery, and reduced birth weight. C. burnetii infection typically spreads among healthy cattle via tick bites and exposure to infected cattle or their bodily secretions. The primary source of human infection is through the ingestion of contaminated milk and milk products, but transmission through aerosols and dust generated during livestock operations is also common. Cattle, sheep, camels and goats are the primary sources of human infection, and the bacterium can be found in various bodily fluids of infected animals. Several factors, including host characteristics, environmental conditions, and management practices, can potentially affect the occurrence of C. burnetii infection in livestock, such as cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. Coxiellosis is prevalent in Ethiopia's pastoral and mixed cattle management systems, as individuals frequently interact with cattle and are therefore more prone to exposure to the C. burnetii bacterium. Vaccination and biosecurity measures are effective techniques for managing C. burnetii infection. Therefore, it is crucial to implement appropriate mitigation strategies, raise awareness about the spread of C. burnetii infection, and conduct further studies on C. burnetii infection in high-risk groups.

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in sheep flocks in Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of Q fever in sheep in the northern part of Kaduna State, Nigeria. This study aimed to determine Coxiella burnetii infection and its risk factors in sheep in Kaduna State. A total of 400 blood samples consisting of 259 samples from females and 141 from males were aseptically collected from the jugular vein of sheep from flocks in Kaduna State. The sera obtained were screened for Q fever using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The obtained data were analysed to determine whether there is a relationship between sex, age, and the animals tested. The analysis revealed that 8.0% of the sera was seropositive by iELISA. There was no significant difference in Q fever seropositivity in the study area according to the sex of sheep (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in Q fever seropositivity according to the age of sheep. This study indicated a high seroprevalence of Q fever mainly among female animals and older sheep. Further studies are required to determine the epizootiology of Q fever in the study area more precisely.