title: Q fever infection in dairy cattle herds: increased risk with high wind speed and low precipitation.
abstract: Ruminants are considered the main reservoir for transmission of Coxiella burnetii (Cb) to humans. The implementation of effective control measures against Cb in ruminants requires knowledge about potential risk factors. The objectives of this study were (i) to describe the spatial distribution of Q fever-infected dairy cattle herds in Sweden, (ii) to quantify the respective contributions of wind and animal movements on the risk of infection, while accounting for other sources of variation, and (iii) to investigate the possible protective effect of precipitation. A total of 1537 bulk milk samples were collected and tested for presence of Cb antibodies. The prevalence of test-positive herds was higher in the south of Sweden. For herds located in areas with high wind speed, open landscape, high animal densities and high temperature, the risk of being infected reached very high values. Because these factors are difficult to control, vaccination could be an appropriate control measure in these areas. Finally, the cumulated precipitation over 1 year was identified as a protective factor.
authors.affiliation: INRA,UMR1300 Biology,Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health,CS 40706,F-44307 Nantes,France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nusinovici
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute,Travvägen,Uppsala,Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frössling
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute,Travvägen,Uppsala,Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Widgren
authors.affiliation: INRA,UMR1300 Biology,Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health,CS 40706,F-44307 Nantes,France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beaudeau
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute,Travvägen,Uppsala,Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D065840:Protective Factors; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011891:Rain; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014887:Weather; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Control measure; Q fever; precipitation; risk factor; wind