Experimental Coxiella burnetii infection in pregnant goats: excretion routes.
Q fever is a widespread zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Infected animals, shedding bacteria by different routes, constitute contamination sources for humans and the environment. To study Coxiella excretion, pregnant goats were inoculated by the subcutaneous route in a site localized just in front of the shoulder at 90 days of gestation with 3 doses of bacteria (10(8), 10(6) or 10(4) i.d.). All the goats aborted whatever the dose used. Coxiella were found by PCR and immunofluorescence tests in all placentas and in several organs of at least one fetus per goat. At abortion, all the goats excreted bacteria in vaginal discharges up to 14 days and in milk samples up to 52 days. A few goats excreted Coxiella in their feces before abortion, and all goats, excreted bacteria in their feces after abortion. Antibody titers against Coxiella increased from 21 days post inoculation to the end of the experiment. For a Q fever diagnostic, detection by PCR and immunofluorescence tests of Coxiella in parturition products and vaginal secretions at abortion should be preferred to serological tests.
Arricau Bouvery
Nathalie
N
Pathologie Infectieuse et Immunologie, INRA, Tours-Nouzilly, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Nathalie.Bouvery@tours.inra.fr
Souriau
Armel
A
Lechopier
Patrick
P
Rodolakis
Annie
A
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006041:Goats; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015047:Zoonoses
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial