title: Serological and molecular evidence of Q fever among small ruminant flocks in Algeria.
abstract: Q fever, a commonly reported zoonosis worldwide, is caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacterium. The infection is often asymptomatic in ruminants, but it can lead to reproductive disorders with bacterial shedding into the environment. Between 2011 and 2013, a study was undertaken in small ruminant flocks in different regions of Algeria. A total of 35 flocks were visited and 227 sera and 267 genital swabs were collected from females after abortions or the lambing period to investigate Q fever infection. Indirect ELISA was used to detect specific antibodies against C. burnetii and real-time PCR for detecting bacterial DNA. Our survey indicated that 58% (95% CI=40-76%) of flocks had at least one positive animal (17 seropositive flocks) and individual seroprevalence was estimated at 14.1% (95% CI=11.8-16.4%) (32 seropositive animals). Bacterial excretion was observed in 21 flocks (60%), and 57 females showed evidence of C. burnetii shedding (21.3%). These results suggest that C. burnetii distribution is high at the flock level and that seropositive and infected (shedder) animals can be found all over the country. Further studies are needed in other regions and on different animal species to better understand the distribution and incidence of Q fever, as well as human exposure, and to develop an adequate prophylaxis program.
authors.affiliation: LBRA, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University Blida 1, Algeria. Electronic address: khaledhamz@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khaled
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratory of Sophia-Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sidi-Boumedine
authors.affiliation: LBRA, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University Blida 1, Algeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merdja
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratory of Sophia-Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.affiliation: LBRA, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University Blida 1, Algeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dahmani
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratory of Sophia-Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thiéry
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratory of Sophia-Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rousset
authors.affiliation: LBRA, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University Blida 1, Algeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouyoucef
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006041:Goats / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Algeria; Coxiella burnetii; ELISA; Goat; Q fever; Real-time qPCR; Sheep