title: Serological survey using ELISA to determine the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever) in sheep and goats in Great Britain.
abstract: A survey of Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever) in sheep flocks and goat herds in Great Britain was undertaken. A total of 5791 sheep (384 flocks) and 522 goats (145 herds) were examined for C. burnetii antibodies using an ELISA. Overall, 53 sheep (37 flocks), and four goats (four herds), tested positive. Estimates of individual animal, between-flock/-herd and within-flock/-herd crude prevalences were 0·9%, 10·2% and 9·0%, respectively, for sheep, and 0·8%, 3% and 26·3%, respectively, for goats. With sheep, the likelihood of an animal testing positive increased with total flock size (P = 0·002) and number of breeding ewes in the flock (P = 0·021). It also increased with number of goats within a 10 km radius (P = 0·038). There was no evidence for spatial clustering of positive herds above that expected by chance alone. No analysis of risk factors was attempted for goats because of the paucity of positives.
authors.affiliation: Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group,School of Veterinary Science,University of Bristol,Langford House,Langford,North Somerset,UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lambton
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA),APHA - Weybridge,Woodham Lane,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA),APHA - Weybridge,Woodham Lane,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gillard
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA),APHA - Weybridge,Woodham Lane,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horigan
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA),APHA - Weybridge,Woodham Lane,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farren
authors.affiliation: APHA Bury St Edmunds,Rougham Hill,Bury St Edmunds,Suffolk,UK.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Pritchard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006041:Goats; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Goats; Q fever; sheep; surveillance; zoonoses