scholarly journals The prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in ticks and animals in Slovenia

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataša Knap ◽  
Diana Žele ◽  
Urška Glinšek Biškup ◽  
Tatjana Avšič-Županc ◽  
Gorazd Vengušt
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Animal Blood ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pathogen Dna

Abstract Background The obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii causes globally distributed zoonotic Q fever. Ruminant livestock are common reservoirs of C. burnetii. Coxiella burnetii are shed in large numbers in the waste of infected animals and are transmitted by inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in domestic animals and ticks in areas of Slovenia associated with a history of Q fever outbreaks. Results A total of 701 ticks were collected and identified from vegetation, domestic animals and wild animals. C. burnetii DNA was detected in 17 out of 701 (2.4%) ticks. No C. burnetii DNA was found in male ticks. Ticks that tested positive in the PCR-based assay were most commonly sampled from wild deer (5.09%), followed by ticks collected from domestic animals (1.16%) and ticks collected by flagging vegetation (0.79%). Additionally, 150 animal blood samples were investigated for the presence of C. burnetii-specific antibodies and pathogen DNA. The presence of pathogen DNA was confirmed in 14 out of 150 (9.3%) blood samples, while specific antibodies were detected in sera from 60 out of 150 (40.4%) animals. Conclusions Our results indicate that ticks, although not the primary source of the bacteria, are infected with C. burnetii and may represent a potential source of infection for humans and animals. Ticks collected from animals were most likely found to harbor C. burnetii DNA, and the infection was not lost during molting. The persistence and distribution of pathogens in cattle and sheep indicates that C. burnetii is constantly present in Slovenia.

scholarly journals C. burnetii Shedding Study In Domestic Animals in Georgia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Nikolaishvili
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Milk Sample ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Animal Blood ◽  
The Third ◽  
Seropositive Animal

ObjectiveQ fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.One of the main goal of the project was shedding study in domestic animals – isolation of C. burnetii from suspected seropositive animal blood, milk samples.IntroductionQ fever is a zoonotic bacterial disease resulting from infection by Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) are considered the main reservoir for the pathogen, which can also infect humans. Q fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.In Georgia Q fever laboratory diagnostic was started and implemented at the Laboratory of the Ministry of Georgia (LMA) within GG20 ,,Prevalence, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Laboratory Analysis of Coxiella burnetii in Georgia’’.MethodsLMA conducted Coxiella burnetii shedding evaluation in three specific farms from Kvemo Kartli (Tsalka, Dmanisi) and Mtskheta-Mtianeti (Dusheti). Seropositive cattle and small ruminants were sampled per week. Sampling lasted 7 weeks and totally 581 samples samples (blood, milk and swab) were tested. Testing were conducted in a BSL3 laboratory under BSL3 working conditions. ACCM medium was used (2XACCm-2 acidified Citrate Cysteine Medium PH-4.75G N NaOH). The samples were incubated at 37°C using CO2.ResultsAs a result of the study, one culture was bacteriologically isolated from seropositive cattle milk sample ( the sample was taken on the third week of the study in Beshtasheni farm, Tslka, Kvemo Kartli) and confirmed by Molecular biology (PCR).ConclusionsThe study confirmed Q fever existence in Georgia. Traditionally considered an obligate intracellular agent, the requirement to be grown in tissue culture cells, embryonated eggs, or animal hosts has made it difficult to isolate C. Burnetii strains. Within the study one culture was isolated from the seropositive animal milk sample that was collected in the third week of the study. shedding of Coxiella burnetii in milk by infected cows appeared to be the most frequent positive sample for the bacterium. 

scholarly journals Transstadial Transmission from Nymph to Adult of Coxiella burnetii by Naturally Infected Hyalomma lusitanicum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia González ◽  
Marta G. González ◽  
Félix Valcárcel ◽  
María Sánchez ◽  
Raquel Martín-Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Transstadial Transmission ◽  
Silicone Membranes

Coxiella burnetii (Derrick) Philip, the causative agent of Q fever, is mainly transmitted by aerosols, but ticks can also be a source of infection. Transstadial and transovarical transmission of C. burnetii by Hyalomma lusitanicum (Koch) has been suggested. There is a close relationship between this tick species, wild animals and C. burnetii but the transmission in a natural environment has not been demonstrated. In this study, we collected 80 engorged nymphs of H. lusitanicum from red deer and wild rabbits. They molt to adults under laboratory conditions and we feed them artificially through silicone membranes after a preconditioning period. C. burnetii DNA was tested in ticks, blood and feces samples using real-time PCR. The pathogen was found in 36.25% of fed adults demonstrating that transstadial transmission from nymph to adult occurs in nature. The presence of DNA in the 60% of blood samples confirms that adults transmit the bacteria during feeding. Further studied are needed about co-feeding and other possible transmission routes to define the role of this tick species in the cycle of C. burnetii.

scholarly journals Assessment of Coxiella burnetii presence after tick bite in north-eastern Poland

Infection ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-90
Author(s):  
Karol Borawski ◽  
Justyna Dunaj ◽  
Piotr Czupryna ◽  
Sławomir Pancewicz ◽  
Renata Świerzbińska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Molecular Study ◽  
Tick Bite ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
History Of

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study is to assess anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies presence in inhabitants of north-eastern Poland, to assess the risk of Q fever after tick bite and to assess the percentage of co-infection with other pathogens. Methods The serological study included 164 foresters and farmers with a history of tick bite. The molecular study included 540 patients, hospitalized because of various symptoms after tick bite. The control group consisted of 20 honorary blood donors. Anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies titers were determined by Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) Phase 1 IgG ELISA (DRG International Inc. USA). PCR was performed to detect DNA of C. burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Results Anti-C. burnetii IgG was detected in six foresters (7.3%). All foresters with the anti-C. burnetii IgG presence were positive toward anti-B. burgdorferi IgG and anti-TBE (tick-borne encephalitis). Anti-C. burnetii IgG was detected in five farmers (6%). Four farmers with anti-C. burnetii IgG presence were positive toward anti-B. burgdorferi IgG and two with anti-TBE. Among them one was co-infected with B. burgdorferi and TBEV. Correlations between anti-C. burnetii IgG and anti-B. burgdorferi IgG presence and between anti-C. burnetii IgG presence and symptoms of Lyme disease were observed. C. burnetii DNA was not detected in any of the 540 (0%) patients. Conclusions C. burnetii is rarely transmitted by ticks, but we proved that it is present in the environment, so it may be a danger to humans. The most common co-occurrence after tick bite concerns C. burnetii and B. burgdorferi.

scholarly journals Coxiella burnetii is widespread in ticks (Ixodidae) in the Xinjiang border areas of China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Ni ◽  
Hanliang Lin ◽  
Xiaofeng Xu ◽  
Qiaoyun Ren ◽  
Malike Aizezi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rate ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Haemaphysalis Punctata ◽  
Border Areas ◽  
Hyalomma Rufipes

Abstract Background The gram-negative Coxiella burnetii bacterium is the pathogen that causes Q fever. The bacterium is transmitted to animals via ticks and can cause infection in domestic animals, wild animals, and humans. As the provincial-level administrative region with the largest land area in China, Xinjiang has many endemic tick species; however, the distribution of C. burnetii in ticks in Xinjiang border areas has not been studied in detail.Results For the current study, 1507 ticks were collected from livestock at 22 sampling sites in ten border regions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region from 2018 to 2019. C. burnetii was detected in 205/348 (58.91%) Dermacentor nuttalli ; in 110/146 (75.34%) Dermacentor pavlovskyi ; in 66/80 (82.50%) Dermacentor silvarum ; in 15/32 (46.90%) Dermacentor niveus ; in 28/132 (21.21%) Hyalomma rufipes ; in 24/25 (96.00%) Hyalomma anatolicum ; in 219/312 (70.19%) Hyalomma asiaticum ; in 252/338 (74.56%) Rhipicephalus sanguineus ; and in 54/92 (58.70%) Haemaphysalis punctata . Among these samples, C. burnetii was detected in D. pavlovskyi for the first time. The infection rate of R. sanguineus was 74.56% (252/338), which was the highest among the four tick genera sampled, whereas the infection rate of H. anatolicum was 96% (24/25), which was the highest among the nine tick species sampled. A sequence analysis indicated that 63 16S rRNA sequences could be found in four newly established genotypes: CXJ-1 (n = 18), CXJ-2 (n = 33), CXJ-3 (n = 6), and CXJ-4 (n = 6).Conclusions This study indicates that CXJ-2 might represent the main C. burnetii genotype in the ticks in Xinjiang because it was detected in eight of the tick species studied. The high infection rate of C. burnetii detected in the ticks found in domestic animals may indicate a high likelihood of Q fever infection in both domestic animals and humans.

scholarly journals Phylogeography of Human and Animal Coxiella burnetii Strains: Genetic Fingerprinting of Q Fever in Belgium

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Tomaiuolo ◽  
Samira Boarbi ◽  
Tiziano Fancello ◽  
Patrick Michel ◽  
Damien Desqueper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Variable Number Tandem Repeat ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Apparent Prevalence ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Contamination Routes

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are the primary source for human infection, and the identification of likely contamination routes from the reservoir animals the critical point to implement control programs. This study shows that Q fever is detected in Belgium in abortion of cattle, goat and sheep at a different degree of apparent prevalence (1.93%, 9.19%, and 5.50%, respectively). In addition, and for the first time, it is detected in abortion of alpaca (Vicugna pacos), raising questions on the role of these animals as reservoirs. To determine the relationship between animal and human strains, Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) (n=146), Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (n=92) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) (n=4) methods were used to characterize samples/strains during 2009-2019. Three MLVA clusters (A, B, C) subdivided in 23 subclusters (A1-A12, B1-B8, C1-C3) and 3 SNP types (SNP1, SNP2, SNP6) were identified. The SNP2 type/MLVA cluster A was the most abundant and dispersed genotype over the entire territory, but it seemed not responsible for human cases, as it was only present in animal samples. The SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C clusters were mostly found in small ruminant and human samples, with the rare possibility of spillovers in cattle. SNP1/MLVA B cluster was present in all Belgian areas, while the SNP6/MLVA C cluster appeared more concentrated in the Western provinces. A broad analysis of European MLVA profiles confirmed the host-species distribution described for Belgian samples. In silico genotyping (WGS) further identified the spacer types and the genomic groups of C. burnetii Belgian strains: cattle and goat SNP2/MLVA A isolates belonged to ST61 and genomic group III, while the goat SNP1/MLVA B strain was classified as ST33 and genomic group II. In conclusion, Q fever is widespread in all Belgian domestic ruminants and in alpaca. We determined that the public health risk in Belgium is likely linked to specific genomic groups (SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C) mostly found in small ruminant strains. Considering the concordance between Belgian and European results, these considerations could be extended to other European countries.

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.

Acute Q fever in third trimester pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. e242558
Author(s):  
Maxwell Braddick ◽  
Marion L Woods ◽  
Suji Prabhaharan
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Drug Intolerance ◽  
Trimester Pregnancy ◽  
Acute Q Fever ◽  
In Pregnancy

A 29-year-old gravida 2 para 1 woman presented at 29 weeks gestation with fevers, back pain, thrombocytopenia and hepatitis. PCR testing of blood samples detected Coxiella burnetii and paired serology later confirmed the diagnosis of acute Q fever in pregnancy. The patient was treated empirically with oral clarithromycin and experienced a symptomatic and biochemical improvement. Therapy was changed to oral trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole but was complicated by a delayed cutaneous reaction, prompting recommencement of clarithromycin. Therapy continued until delivery of a healthy girl at 39 weeks and 3 days. Q fever in pregnancy is likely under-reported and is associated with the development of chronic infection and obstetric complications. Treatment with clarithromycin is an alternative to trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole in the setting of drug intolerance.

Q fever in China: a systematic review, 1989–2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. EL-MAHALLAWY ◽  
G. LU ◽  
P. KELLY ◽  
D. XU ◽  
Y. LI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Northern Areas

SUMMARYQ fever, first described in 1937, is a worldwide zoonosis caused byCoxiella burnetiithat has long been considered an under-reported and under-diagnosed illness. In China, the disease was initially reported in 1950 and in the last 25 years (1989–2013) there have been 29 reports on Q fever in China, nearly half of which were in the last 5 years. These publications have largely been in Chinese and in this review we summarize their findings to enable a better understanding of Q fever in China. The overall prevalence ofC. burnetiiinfections in the reports is 10% (1139/11 209) in people, 15% (288/1918) in cattle and 12% (176/1440) in goats. These infections occurred widely in China with positive people and/or animals reported in 64 cities/municipalities from 19 provinces, particularly those in the eastern, western and northern areas. Cattle and goats had the highest seroprevalences of all the domestic animals studied and a wide variety of ticks were found to be infected. Mice were also commonly infected and had high copy numbers ofC. burnetiiDNA, suggesting they might be important in the epidemiology of Q fever in China.

scholarly journals Q fever in Egypt: Epidemiological survey of Coxiella burnetii specific antibodies in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and camels

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. e0192188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Klemmer ◽  
John Njeru ◽  
Aya Emam ◽  
Ahmed El-Sayed ◽  
Amira A. Moawad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Specific Antibodies

scholarly journals Increases in the Levels of Coxiella burnetii-Specific Immunoglobulin G1 and G3 Antibodies in Acute Q Fever and Chronic Q Fever

1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 814-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Capo ◽  
Ioana Iorgulescu ◽  
Maryse Mutillod ◽  
Jean-Louis Mege ◽  
Didier Raoult
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Chronic Q Fever ◽  
Specific Immunoglobulin ◽  
Acute Q Fever ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACT A detailed analysis of the humoral response to Coxiella burnetii may provide insight into the pathogenesis of Q fever, a zoonosis caused by C. burnetii. The subclasses of C. burnetii-specific antibodies were determined by immunofluorescence in 20 patients with acute Q fever and 20 patients with chronic Q fever. Although immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG3 antibodies were found in acute and chronic Q fever, neither IgG2 nor IgG4 was detected. The detection of IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies was not due to an increase of the IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses. Moreover, IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies were not correlated, suggesting that they may play different roles in Q fever.

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