A Freedom of Coxiella burnetii Infection Survey in European Bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland

Q fever is an important zoonosis caused by the intracellular Gram-negative bacteria Coxiella burnetii. The source of infection are numerous species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, as well as ticks. The disease is widespread throughout Europe, but the role of wildlife in its epidemiology is poorly understood. The European bison (Bison bonasus) population has been growing European-wide quite dynamically over the last few years. The aim of this study was to determine whether C. burnetii infection occurs in European bison and whether it can be considered an important bacterial reservoir in the natural environment. Five hundred and twenty three samples of European bison sera originating from 14 (out of the 26 existing) Polish populations were examined for the presence of specific antibodies using an ID Screen Q Fever Indirect Multi-species ELISA test. Only one (0.19%) serum sample was positive in ELISA, and two other samples were doubtful. The only seropositive animal found in this study was a free-living bull. It suggests possible transmission from domestic cattle by sharing pastures. The transmission of C. burnetii into the European bison was rather accidental in the country and its role as an important wild reservoir is unlikely. Since no tests are available for wildlife ruminants there is a need for the adaptation of the available tests.

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New insight on the role of melatonin receptors in reproductive processes of seasonal breeders on the example of mature male European bison ( Bison bonasus , Linnaeus 1758)

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B Biology ◽

10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.05.026 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 173 ◽

pp. 84-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Anna Tabecka-Lonczynska ◽

Jennifer Mytych ◽

Przemyslaw Solek ◽

Magdalena Kulpa ◽

Marek Koziorowski

Keyword(s):

Mature Male ◽

Melatonin Receptors ◽

Bison Bison ◽

European Bison ◽

Bison Bonasus ◽

Reproductive Processes

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Pathomorphological Studies in European Bison (Bison bonasus Linnaeus, 1758) with Seropositive Reaction to Coxiella burnetii

Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series B ◽

10.1111/j.1439-0450.1994.tb00272.x ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 41 (1-10) ◽

pp. 618-624 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Szarek ◽

T. Rotkiewicz ◽

Z. Anusz ◽

M. Z. Khan ◽

M. A. Chishti

Keyword(s):

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Bison Bison ◽

European Bison ◽

Bison Bonasus

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

10.20944/preprints202010.0121.v1 ◽

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.

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

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9110884 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 884 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Julia González ◽

Marta G. González ◽

Félix Valcárcel ◽

María Sánchez ◽

Raquel Martín-Hernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Tick Species ◽

Red Deer ◽

Q Fever ◽

Artificial Feeding ◽

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 transovarial 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 moult 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 faeces samples using real-time PCR. The pathogen was found in 36.2% of fed adults, demonstrating that transstadial transmission from nymph to adult occurs in nature. The presence of DNA in the 60.0% of blood samples after artificial feeding confirms that adults transmit the bacteria during feeding. Further studies are needed about co-feeding and other possible transmission routes to define the role of this tick species in the cycle of C. burnetii.

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Validation of a Novel Commercial ELISA Test for the Detection of Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9121075 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1075

Author(s):

Salvatore Ledda ◽

Cinzia Santucciu ◽

Valentina Chisu ◽

Giovanna Masala

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Q Fever ◽

Animal Health ◽

Elisa Test ◽

Clinical Diagnostics ◽

Complex Life Cycle ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Specificity And Sensitivity

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, a Gram-negative pathogen with a complex life cycle and a high impact on public and animal health all over the world. The symptoms are indistinguishable from those belonging to other diseases, and the disease could be symptomless. For these reasons, reliable laboratory tests are essential for an accurate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to validate a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, named the Chorus Q Fever Phase II IgG and IgM Kit (DIESSE, Diagnostica Senese S.p.A), which is performed by an instrument named Chorus, a new device in medical diagnostics. This diagnostic test is employed for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii Phase II antigens in acute disease. Our validation protocol was performed according to the Italian Accreditation Body (ACCREDIA) (Regulation UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 and 17043:2010), OIE (World Organization for Animal Health), and Statement for Reporting Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD). Operator performance was evaluated along with the analytical specificity and sensitivity (ASp and ASe) and diagnostic accuracy of the kit, with parameters such as diagnostic specificity and sensitivity (DSp and DSe) and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), in addition to the repeatability. According to the evaluated parameters, the diagnostic ELISA test was shown to be suitable for validation and commercialization as a screening method in human sera and a valid support for clinical diagnostics.

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