scholarly journals Coxiella burnetii in Infertile Dairy Cattle With Chronic Endometritis

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide De Biase ◽  
Alessandro Costagliola ◽  
Fabio Del Piero ◽  
Rossella Di Palo ◽  
Domenico Coronati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Bacterial Culture ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Premature Delivery ◽  
Chronic Endometritis ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Pathogen ◽  
First Time

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the cause of Q fever in many animal species and humans. Several studies have reported the association between C. burnetii and abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth, and weak offspring. However, no solid evidence indicates that C. burnetii causes endometritis, subfertility, and retained fetal membranes. For this study, histopathological and PCR evaluation were performed on 40 uterine biopsies from dairy cattle with poor fertility. Uterine swabs were concurrently tested with microbiology assays. The endometrial biopsies of 30 cows did not have any significant lesions, and no pathogens were identified by aerobic bacterial culture and PCR. Ten cows were PCR-positive for C. burnetii and negative for other pathogens by aerobic bacterial culture and PCR. These 10 cases revealed a mild to severe chronic endometritis admixed with perivascular and periglandular fibrosis. Immunohistochemical evaluation of C. burnetii PCR-positive biopsies identified, for the first time, the presence of intralesional and intracytoplasmic C. burnetii in macrophages in the endometrium of cattle.

scholarly journals Coxiella burnetii Inhibits Activation of Host Cell Apoptosis through a Mechanism That Involves Preventing Cytochrome c Release from Mitochondria

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 5282-5289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Lührmann ◽  
Craig R. Roy
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Intracellular Pathogen ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Cell Death Pathway ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Pathogen

ABSTRACT Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the etiological agent of the human disease Q fever. C. burnetii infects mammalian cells and then remodels the membrane-bound compartment in which it resides into a unique lysosome-derived organelle that supports bacterial multiplication. To gain insight into the mechanisms by which C. burnetii is able to multiply intracellularly, we examined the ability of host cells to respond to signals that normally induce apoptosis. Our data show that mammalian cells infected with C. burnetii are resistant to apoptosis induced by staurosporine and UV light. C. burnetii infection prevented caspase 3/7 activation and limited fragmentation of the host cell nucleus in response to agonists that induce apoptosis. Inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis reduced the antiapoptotic effect that C. burnetii exerted on infected host cells. Inhibition of apoptosis in C. burnetii-infected cells did not correlate with the degradation of proapoptotic BH3-only proteins involved in activation of the intrinsic cell death pathway; however, cytochrome c release from mitochondria was diminished in cells infected with C. burnetii upon induction of apoptosis. These data indicate that C. burnetii can interfere with the intrinsic cell death pathway during infection by producing proteins that either directly or indirectly prevent release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. It is likely that inhibition of apoptosis by C. burnetii represents an important virulence property that allows this obligate intracellular pathogen to maintain host cell viability despite inducing stress that would normally activate the intrinsic death pathway.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cattle in the Belgrade epizootiological area

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-369
Author(s):  
Jadranka Zutic ◽  
Dragica Vojinovic ◽  
Slobodan Stanojevic ◽  
Branislav Kureljusic ◽  
Vesna Milicevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Intracellular Pathogen ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Serological Studies ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Pathogen

Q-fever is antropozoonosis which is caused by Coxiella burnetii, obligate intracellular pathogen. The most significant characteristics of this pathogen are resistance and stability in the environment, possibility of aerosol dissemination, and very low infective dose. C. burnetii can infect domestic and wild animals, rodents, birds and ticks. Q fever in animals is generally asymptomatic, although it can lead to reproductive disorders during pregnancy. The main route of infection in humans is inhalation of contaminated aerosol and dust. Serological studies have shown the presence of antibodies to C. burnetii in the serum samples of cattle in Belgrade epizootiological area. Seroprevalence of 18% was found in farm bred cattle, while it was only 1.5% in individual breeding. In farm bred cows that have suffered abortion prevalence was 49%, and only 1.9% in individual breeding. The overall results indicate that the circulation of this pathogen in cattle, in Belgrade epizootiological area, poses a health risk, not only to the cattle, but also to the humans, especially persons working with animals. Q fever control programs most often recommend serological research and vaccination of animals. Accordingly, it is necessary to define a strategy for the implementation of biosecurity measures and preventive measures against Q fever.

A study of the correlation between Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and abortions in sheep in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Kilic ◽  
Hakan Kalender
Keyword(s):  
Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Eastern Anatolia ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Bacterium ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Elisa Kit

Q fever is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide and is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Infected animals are usually asymptomatic, but infection can cause abortion and stillbirth in ruminants. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate prevalance of Coxiella burnetii infection in aborted and nonaborted sheep serum samples in Eastern Anatolia region by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The determine of prevalance in sheep flocks from four provinces (Elazig, Malatya, Tunceli, Bitlis) and tested for anti-C.burnetii antibody detection, by means of Chekit Q fever Elisa kit. 350 serum samples obtained from flocks belonging aborted sheep showed that a total of 56 (16%) were detected seropositivity, whereas 171 serum samples obtained from nonaborted sheep flocks in 13 of the 171 (7.60%) for C.burnetii in seropositivity were observed. Coxiellosis should be considered an important cause of sheep with abortion history and nonaborted in Elazig and neighboring provinces.

scholarly journals Serological characterization of surface-exposed proteins of Coxiella burnetii

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (12) ◽  
pp. 2718-2731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Jiao ◽  
Xiaolu Xiong ◽  
Yong Qi ◽  
Wenping Gong ◽  
Changsong Duan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Rickettsia Rickettsii ◽  
Serological Characterization ◽  
Vaccine Antigens ◽  
Mycoplasma Pneumonia ◽  
Dimensional Electrophoresis

The obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii causes Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis. Here we labelled Cox . burnetii with biotin and used biotin-streptavidin affinity chromatography to isolate surface-exposed proteins (SEPs). Using two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry, we identified 37 proteins through bioinformatics analysis. Thirty SEPs expressed in Escherichia coli (recombinant SEPs, rSEPs) were used to generate microarrays, which were probed with sera from mice experimentally infected with Cox. burnetii or sera from Q fever patients. Thirteen rSEPs were recognized as seroreactive, and the majority reacted with at least 50 % of the sera from mice infected with Cox. burnetii but not with sera from mice infected with Rickettsia rickettsii, R. heilongjiangensis, or R. typhi. Further, 13 proteins that reacted with sera from patients with Q fever did not react with sera from patients with brucellosis or mycoplasma pneumonia. Our results suggest that these seroreactive SEPs have potential as serodiagnostic antigens or as subunit vaccine antigens against Q fever.

scholarly journals First serological record of Coxiella burnetii infection in the equine population of Slovakia

Biologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Drážovská ◽  
Marián Prokeš ◽  
Boris Vojtek ◽  
Jana Mojžišová ◽  
Anna Ondrejková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Elisa Method ◽  
Zoonotic Pathogen ◽  
Specific Antibodies

AbstractCoxiella burnetii is a worldwide zoonotic pathogen causing Q fever in various animal species and humans. In Slovakia, cases of C. burnetii infection in both animals and humans are confirmed every year. The role of horses in the epidemiology of this neglected disease is still unclear. In our study, we focused on a serosurvey of C. burnetii in the equine population in Slovakia by the ELISA method. Subsequently, a nested PCR was performed to detect the 16S rRNA fragment of the genus Coxiella. Among 184 horse sera, the presence of specific antibodies to C. burnetii was detected in four samples, representing a 2.17% seropositivity. All the positive horses were mares; two originated from Central Slovakia and two from Eastern Slovakia. Although the number of positive samples was too small for a determination of statistical significance, our results provide the first confirmation of antibodies to C. burnetii in horses from Slovakia. Although no positive PCR result was obtained, these serological findings may help to clarify the circulation of the pathogen in the environment.

scholarly journals Serological survey of Coxiella burnetii infections in dairy cattle, sheep, goats and zoo animals in Hungary – Short communication

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Dobos ◽  
István Fodor ◽  
Gerda Kiss ◽  
Miklós Gyuranecz
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Ruminant Species ◽  
Zoo Animals

AbstractQ fever is a disease of high zoonotic potential, but interest in its causative agent is rather low although it causes some public health problems in Hungary. The prevalence of Q fever is highly variable by country. The main reservoirs of the disease are the same domestic ruminant species everywhere, but the epidemiological profile depends on the features of the specific reservoir. The aim of this large-scale study was to demonstrate the importance of Q fever in different species as a possible source for human infection in most regions of Hungary. A total of 851 serum samples from 44 dairy farms, 16 sheep flocks, 4 goat farms and 3 zoos located in different parts of Hungary were tested. The presence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii was surveyed in dairy cattle (n = 547), goats (n = 71), sheep (n = 200) and zoo animals (n = 33). The animal species tested in Hungary showed different seroprevalence values of C. burnetii infection. Seropositivity by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was found in 258 out of 547 (47.2%) cows and in 69 out of 271 (25.5%) small ruminants, among them in 47 out of 200 (23.5%) sheep and in 22 out of 71 (31.0%) goats. Antibodies to C. burnetii were not detected in zoo animals. Seropositivity was demonstrated in 44 out of 44 (100%) dairy cattle farms, with at least one serum sample found to be positive on each farm. The seropositivity rate of small ruminant farms was 55.0% (11 positive out of 20 tested), with 9 out of 16 (56.3%) sheep flocks and 2 out of 4 (50.0%) goat herds showing seropositivity.

scholarly journals Q fever

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Robert Norton
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Environmental Sampling ◽  
High Likelihood ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Bacterium ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Chronic Q Fever ◽  
Specific Symptoms ◽  
Occupational Contact

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. North Queensland has some of the highest rates of Q fever notifications in Australia. The clinical diagnosis of Q fever can be difficult with non-specific symptoms. Up to 5% of cases will develop chronic Q fever with a high likelihood of endocarditis. Diagnosis is essentially by serology. In North Queensland cases have clustered in relatively new, semi-rural suburbs which lie adjacent to native bushland. Native mammals are attracted to new growth in these cleared areas, particularly after the wet season. There is little or no occupational contact with traditional sources of Q fever such as cattle. Seroprevalence studies on native mammals have shown higher levels of seropositivity in native mammals than in cattle. It is postulated that the increase in human cases seen from these areas are a direct effect of interaction between native mammals and humans. Further studies on environmental sampling is currently under way.

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