Association between Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and abortion in dairy cattle of Northern Italy.
Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever in humans, has been associated with abortion in cattle. In this study 650 sera from cattle with abortion and 600 randomly-selected control sera were examined for antibodies to C. burnetii by ELISA. Two hundred and ninety-two (44.9%) out of 650 animals which experienced abortion were seropositive versus 132 (22%) out of 600 of the control group. A statistically significant difference resulted from the comparison of the seroprevalence of aborted cattle with that of controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant higher prevalence was disclosed in cattle which aborted during late gestation (p < 0.002) and in the autumn (p < 0.001).
Cabassi
Clotilde S
CS
Università di Parma, Dipartimento di Salute Animale, Parma, Italy.
Taddei
Simone
S
Donofrio
Gaetano
G
Ghidini
Francesca
F
Piancastelli
Chiara
C
Flammini
Cesidio F
CF
Cavirani
Sandro
S
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial