title: Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in beef cattle in Queensland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Queensland has the highest incidence of Q fever in Australia. The aim of this study was to undertake a cross-sectional seroprevalence survey of Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, in beef cattle in Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were tested by ELISA for both phase II and phase I antigens of the organism using an Australian isolate. Blood samples were collected at an abattoir that processes beef cattle originating from northern and north-western Queensland, in addition to blood samples taken from beef cattle across Queensland as part of a second survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity was 16.8% (95% confidence interval 16.7-16.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence of C. burnetii infection in beef cattle has public health implications for occupational exposure of primary producers and veterinarians and for the proximity of beef cattle properties to residential areas in regional Queensland. This study is the first known investigation of C. burnetii seroprevalence in beef cattle in Queensland and the first known use of an Australian C. burnetii isolate for screening using both phase II and phase I antigens.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Alanna.Cooper@jcu.edu.au
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hedlefs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ketheesan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Govan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011634:Public Health; D011778:Q Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial