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Bauer BU, Herms TL, Jahnke R, Ossowski N, Walter MC, Frangoulidis D, Runge M, Ganter M, Knittler MR. Control of Coxiella burnetii shedding in a dairy goat herd by annual offspring vaccination. Vaccine 2024; 42:126125. [PMID: 39025699 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
A Coxiella burnetii vaccination program, targeting only doelings, was introduced on a German goat farm to curb bacterial shedding. In 2018, adults were vaccinated with a C. burnetii Phase I vaccine at three-weeks apart following pathogen diagnosis, with a booster administered six months later due to sustained high shedding. From 2018 to 2021, doelings received two vaccine doses without any further boosters. To assess the program's efficacy, vaginal swabs from up to 40 animals per age group were collected during kidding seasons from 2019 to 2022. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were gathered monthly from January 2018 to October 2022 to monitor herd-level shedding. Real-time PCR analysis determined genome equivalents in all three sample types. Serum samples were taken before the initial immunization and during the post-kidding season from up to 40 goats per age group annually from 2018 to 2022. Phase-specific ELISAs determined IgG Phase I and Phase II antibodies. Additionally, two serum samples per age group from 2022 were analyzed using a neutralization assay. A few goats continued shedding small quantities during subsequent kidding seasons. Although positive BTM samples decreased, they displayed an undulating trend. Most age groups exhibited robust IgG Phase I responses and lower IgG Phase II levels post immunization. Mean IgG levels remained elevated until the study ended compared to pre-vaccination levels in most age groups. Additionally, neutralizing antibodies were present regardless of IgG response. Overall, double vaccination induced lasting antibody levels, but did not entirely prevent C. burnetii shedding. The resilience of the observed humoral immune activity requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin U Bauer
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany; Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany.
| | - T Louise Herms
- Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Eintrachtweg 17, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Rico Jahnke
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany.
| | - Nina Ossowski
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Mathias C Walter
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Dimitrios Frangoulidis
- Bundeswehr Medical Service Headquarters VI-2, Medical Intelligence & Information (MI2), Dachauer Straße 128, 80637 Munich, Germany.
| | - Martin Runge
- Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Eintrachtweg 17, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Michael R Knittler
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany.
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Miller HK, Priestley RA, Smith CB, Cherry C, Kersh GJ. Longitudinal surveillance of Coxiella burnetii following an abortion storm in domestic goats. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1426573. [PMID: 39346957 PMCID: PMC11427434 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1426573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, which can cause serious illness in humans and abortions in goats. A Q fever outbreak among an unvaccinated goat herd led to a 65% loss of the kid crop in spring 2018. To assess the impact of the outbreak on the herd and environment, longitudinal surveillance of the ranch was conducted across three samplings in September 2018, April 2019, and May 2022. Antibodies against C. burnetii were monitored by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Shedding was monitored through analysis of vaginal/fecal swabs and milk. Environmental swabs and bulk soil were collected from various locations around the ranch. Animal and environmental samples were analyzed for C. burnetii DNA by PCR. Herd-level seroprevalence decreased from 89% in 2018 to 84.3% in 2019, and 64.5% in 2022. Overall herd shedding was 14.4% in 2018, 7.4% in 2019, and 6.7% in 2022. The percentage of C. burnetii-positive environmental samples was 83.7% in 2018, 51.7% in 2019, and 28.6% in 2022. Serological evidence suggests that new infections were occurring in the herd 4 years post-abortion storm. This study demonstrates the presence of C. burnetii shedding and environmental contamination in a goat operation at least four kidding seasons after an outbreak. A better understanding of management practices that can improve outcomes for infected herds, particularly in areas without access to vaccines against C. burnetii, is needed to better protect operators and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halie K Miller
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rachael A Priestley
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Cody B Smith
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Cara Cherry
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Gilbert J Kersh
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Yáñez U, Álvarez J, Pisón C, Acción A, Becerra JJ, Jiménez A, Gisbert P, Herradón PG, Peña AI, Prieto A, Díaz-Cao JM, Quintela LA. Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Relationship between Reproductive Performance and the Presence of Antibodies against Coxiellosis in Dairy Farm Milk Tanks in the Northwest of Spain. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:367. [PMID: 38338010 PMCID: PMC10854522 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a zoonotic disease that has been associated with reproductive problems in animals. As there is little epidemiological data regarding the distribution and risk factors of this disorder in cattle, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii among dairy herds in the northwest of Spain, and to determine the on-farm risk factors associated with the disease and its effects on reproductive performance. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were collected from 262 commercial dairy herds from A Coruña, Lugo, and Pontevedra provinces. Data about location, mean age, and herd management features were obtained. A commercial indirect ELISA kit was used to determine the presence of antibodies against C. burnetii in BTM samples. The relationship between seropositivity to C. burnetii and the risk factors was checked using a Pearson's χ2 test and a classification tree analysis. In addition, a one-way ANOVA test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to check the impact of seropositivity to C. burnetii on reproductive performance. A total of 60.1% of the farms tested positive for coxiellosis, the herd size, the external purchase of livestock, and the geographical area were identified as the main risk factors. Conception rate and first-service conception rate were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in positive farms (37.1 and 32.9%) compared to negative farms (39.8 and 36.1%). Similarly, positive farms had significant higher incidence of endometritis (13.7% vs. 11.2%, p < 0.05). Consequently, a high seropositivity and slightly negative effects of coxiellosis on reproductive performance were observed, which intensifies the need for further research, including the identification an active infection in positive herds and the characterization of the genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uxía Yáñez
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
| | - Jacobo Álvarez
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
| | - Cristina Pisón
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
| | - Antía Acción
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
| | - Juan J. Becerra
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
- IBADER, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.); (J.M.D.-C.)
| | - Antonio Jiménez
- CEVA SALUD ANIMAL S.A., Avda. Diagonal 609-615, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Philippe Gisbert
- CEVA SANTE ANIMALE, Avenue de la Ballastière 10, 33500 Libourne, France;
| | - Pedro G. Herradón
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
- IBADER, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.); (J.M.D.-C.)
| | - Ana I. Peña
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
| | - Alberto Prieto
- IBADER, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.); (J.M.D.-C.)
- INVESAGA Group, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - José M. Díaz-Cao
- IBADER, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.); (J.M.D.-C.)
- INVESAGA Group, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Luis A. Quintela
- Unit of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (U.Y.); (J.Á.); (C.P.); (A.A.); (J.J.B.); (P.G.H.); (A.I.P.)
- IBADER, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.); (J.M.D.-C.)
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