Short communication: investigation of Coxiella burnetii occurrence in dairy sheep flocks by bulk-tank milk analysis and antibody level determination.
To estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the dairy sheep population from the Basque Country (northern Spain), a study was carried out combining molecular and serological techniques. First, bulk-tank milk samples from 154 flocks belonging to the Latxa Breed Farmers Association were analyzed by PCR, with 22% of flocks testing positive for C. burnetii. Then, a selection of 34 flocks (7 PCR positive and 17 negative) was investigated for the presence of serum antibodies by ELISA test on 1,011 ewes (approximately 30 ewes per flock). A total of 8.9% of the animals were seropositive, 67.6% of the flocks had at least one seropositive animal, but only in 14.7% of them was seroprevalence greater than 25%. Older ewes showed a significantly greater prevalence (17.5%) compared with yearlings (7.5%) or replacement lambs (1.5%). A marginally significant association was found between seroprevalence and PCR detection of C. burnetii in bulk-tank milk. The widespread distribution of C. burnetii in the region advocates for the implementation of Q fever control strategies and highlights the potential risk of sheep as a reservoir and infection source for other domestic and wildlife species and the human population.
García-Pérez
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AL
NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Department of Animal Health, Berreaga 1, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain. agarcia@neiker.net
Astobiza
I
I
Barandika
J F
JF
Atxaerandio
R
R
Hurtado
A
A
Juste
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008892:Milk / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial