title: Coxiella burnetii associated placental lesions and infection level in parturient cows.
abstract: Cotyledons (n=170) from dairy cattle were analysed for Coxiella burnetii by real-time (rt) PCR targeting the IS1111a and icd genes. Positive cases (n=90) and a random selection of negative cases (n=20) were examined by histology, immunohistochemistry and, if infection level was high, by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. PCR results were compared to bulk tank milk (BTM) antibody levels. Placental infection was detected in cows from herds at all BTM antibody levels. However the likelihood of placental infection was generally higher in herds with intermediate or high BMT antibody levels than in herds with low antibody levels. Histological examination revealed a range of mostly mild cotyledonary changes; C. burnetii infection was only rarely associated with inflammation. This may explain why bovine Q fever is usually not clinically apparent. Nevertheless, infected cattle will shed C. burnetii at calving and this can occur even in herds without BTM antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Ridebanevej 3, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UR1282 Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodolakis
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UR1282 Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cochonneau
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Sciences, Dyrlaegevej 68, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Agger
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1790 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anna-Bodil
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Christoffersen
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1790 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tim K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Ridebanevej 3, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Department of Large Animal Sciences, Dyrlaegevej 68, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: jager@life.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Jørgen S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Agerholm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000662:veterinary; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011778:Q Fever / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial