title: Coxiella burnetii total immunoglobulin G, phase I and phase II immunoglobulin G antibodies, and bacterial shedding in young dams in persistently infected dairy herds.
abstract: The current study examines Coxiella burnetii infection patterns in young dairy dams around the calving period in persistently infected high-producing dairy herds. Infection patterns were determined in terms of total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and phase-specific IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and bacterial shedding by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). On days 171-177 of gestation, at parturition, and on days 15-21 and 91-97 postpartum, 7 first-parity cows and 7 second-parity cows were sampled for serology and qPCR. Total phase-specific I (PhI) and II (PhII) IgG antibodies were detected in 2 animals at days 171-177 of gestation. Four additional animals underwent seroconversion on days 91-97 postpartum. Three of 6 seropositive dams according to total IgG, showed a PhI+/PhII+ profile, whereas dams that seroconverted exhibited a PhI-/PhII+ (2/6) or PhI+/PhII- (1/6) profile. An indirect fluorescent antibody test for PhI and PhII immunoglobulin M (IgM) was performed on plasma samples from the shedding dams, confirming seropositivity in a first-parity dam that seroconverted, and detecting a sudden spike of PhI-IgM antibodies in 1 further dam. No relationship was detected in young C. burnetii-infected animals between total IgG, PhI and/or PhII antibodies, and bacterial shedding throughout the study period. The highest bacterial load measured by qPCR was recorded in a second-parity dam. This animal presented abnormal peripheral blood counts, which would be an indication of severe peripheral blood alterations in some infected cattle. This study suggests that young shedder cows are mostly seronegative in early stages of infection.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola) bserrano@prodan.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serrano-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almería
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tutusaus
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jado
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anda
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monleón
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badiola
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia-Ispierto
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Agrotechnology, Animal Production Department, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain (Serrano-Pérez, Tutusaus, Garcia-Ispierto, López-Gatius)Centre for Research on Animal Health, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain (Almería)Department of Bacteriology, National Microbiology Centre, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain (Jado, Anda)Centre for Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Emergent Diseases, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain (Monleón, Badiola).
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Gatius
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003612:Dairying; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011778:Q Fever / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Cattle; Q fever; hematology; phase-specific antibodies; polymerase chain reaction