Spread of Coxiella burnetii infection in a flock of sheep after an episode of Q fever.
In October 1998, two abortions associated with Coxiella burnetii occurred in a group of 34 pregnant ewes in the sheep flock belonging to INRA Tours-Nouzilly. The flock was kept in groups of approximately 40 ewes, which were housed together in the same accommodation. The prevalence of C burnetii infection in the groups was investigated by using ELISA and PCR tests, which revealed a high prevalence of C burnetii. The ewes were treated with oxytetracycline to reduce the shedding of C burnetii and to prevent further abortions. Nevertheless, five abortions attributed to C burnetii occurred in January and March 1999 in three groups of ewes, and 24 of the ewes still shed the bacteria into their vaginal tracts. In addition, a serological study was carried out during the first year of life of the female lambs born in 1999 and 2000; 12 per cent of 113 lambs born in 1999 were seropositive for C burnetii by ELISA, and half of the ELISA-positive lambs were born either to serologically positive ewes or to dams that excreted the pathogen into their vaginal tracts. However, all the 150 lambs born in 2000 were ELISA-negative, suggesting that the preventive measures undertaken had suppressed both the abortions and the shedding of C burnetii, and reduced the transmission of the agent.
Berri
M
M
Pathologie Infectieuse et Immunologie, INRA Tours-Nouzilly, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
Crochet
D
D
Santiago
S
S
Rodolakis
A
A
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011778:Q Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010118:Oxytetracycline