George Filioussis1, Alexandros Theodoridis2, Dimitrios Papadopoulos3, Athanasios I Gelasakis4, Sotiria Vouraki5, George Bramis5, Georgios Arsenos5. 1. Laboratory of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. georgefilious@vet.auth.gr. 2. Laboratory of Animal Production Economics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. 3. Laboratory of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. 4. Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, ELGO-Demeter, GR 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece. 5. Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> is an obligatory intracellular bacterial pathogen causing the zoonotic disease Q fever. The most common reservoirs of <i>C. burnetii</i> are wild mammals, birds and ticks. Pregnant domestic ruminants infected with this bacterium are also a major source of human infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The serological prevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> in goats and sheep diagnosed with adverse pregnancy outcomes was assessed by undertaking a survey on 800 dairy goats and 800 dairy ewes reared in four different regions of Greece (Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, and Peloponnese). A stratified sampling was carried out, taking also as a criterion the age of the animals. Serum antibodies were analyzed by a commercial ELISA according to the manufacturer's recommendations. RESULTS: Generally, there was a statistically significantly higher serological prevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> (14.4%) in goats compared to sheep (8%). Serological prevalence was higher in adults (15.5% in goats and 8.5% in sheep) compared to yearlings (7.4% in goats and 4.6% in sheep). The prevalence increased significantly with age only in goats. Finally, all animals reared in Peloponnese had a prevalence significantly higher (21% in goats and 18% in sheep) than animals reared in the other three regions. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report that associates <i>C. burnetii</i> with reproductive disturbances of domestic ruminants in Greece. However, considering the importance of coxiellosis for public health, further investigations are required on its epidemiology regarding abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth and weak offspring in small ruminants, as well as in other domestic and wild animal species.
INTRODUCTION: <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> is an obligatory intracellular bacterial pathogen causing the zoonotic disease Q fever. The most common reservoirs of <i>C. burnetii</i> are wild mammals, birds and ticks. Pregnant domestic ruminants infected with this bacterium are also a major source of humaninfection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The serological prevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> in goats and sheep diagnosed with adverse pregnancy outcomes was assessed by undertaking a survey on 800 dairy goats and 800 dairy ewes reared in four different regions of Greece (Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, and Peloponnese). A stratified sampling was carried out, taking also as a criterion the age of the animals. Serum antibodies were analyzed by a commercial ELISA according to the manufacturer's recommendations. RESULTS: Generally, there was a statistically significantly higher serological prevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> (14.4%) in goats compared to sheep (8%). Serological prevalence was higher in adults (15.5% in goats and 8.5% in sheep) compared to yearlings (7.4% in goats and 4.6% in sheep). The prevalence increased significantly with age only in goats. Finally, all animals reared in Peloponnese had a prevalence significantly higher (21% in goats and 18% in sheep) than animals reared in the other three regions. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report that associates <i>C. burnetii</i> with reproductive disturbances of domestic ruminants in Greece. However, considering the importance of coxiellosis for public health, further investigations are required on its epidemiology regarding abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth and weak offspring in small ruminants, as well as in other domestic and wild animal species.
Authors: P Khademi; A Ownagh; B Ataei; A Kazemnia; J Eydi; M Khalili; Mahzounieh M; K Mardani Journal: Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2020-07-23 Impact factor: 2.268