[The occurrence of Coxiella burnetii in sheep and ticks of the genus Dermacentor in Baden-Wuerttemberg].
This study examined the occurrence of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), the infectious agent of Q-fever, in sheep and sheep-ticks in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, as a possible source of infection in Q-fever outbreaks. Using PCR, we examined a total of 1066 Dermacentor ticks from 23 herds and 49 samples of tick excrement from 18 herds for C. burnetii. We found the infectious agent in one non-engorged tick and in one sample of tick excrement from the same herd, in Efringen-Kirchen (district Loerrach). Sequencing the PCR-products confirmed the amplifications as specific for C. burnetii. Further serological tests of random samples of the four districts of Baden-Wuerttemberg showed a seroprevalence from 0 to 1.4% using complement fixation test (CFT), as well as a 0.9 to 10.2% seroprevalence, using ELISA test. Serum samples from a Q-fever-suspicious herd resulted, however, in 6% (CFT) and 53% (ELISA) positive reactions. A comparison between CFT and ELISA showed both a correlation of the two test methods that increased with higher CFT titration levels and positive reactions using ELISA for 9.4% of the serums that had tested negative using CFT. The results of the present study reveal that ticks and their excrements are important vectors of transmission of Q-fever in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Investigations on C. burnetii using PCR as well as serological surveys of sheep are important instruments for diagnosis and disease control of Q-fever.
Sting
R
R
Chemisches und Veterinaruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart, Fellbach. reinhard.sting@CVUAS.BWL.de
Breitling
N
N
Oehme
R
R
Kimmig
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial