Short communication: investigation of Coxiella burnetii occurrence in dairy sheep flocks by bulk-tank milk analysis and antibody level determination

J Dairy Sci. 2009 Apr;92(4):1581-4. doi: 10.3168/jds.2008-1672.

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the dairy sheep population from the Basque Country (northern Spain), a study was carried out combining molecular and serological techniques. First, bulk-tank milk samples from 154 flocks belonging to the Latxa Breed Farmers Association were analyzed by PCR, with 22% of flocks testing positive for C. burnetii. Then, a selection of 34 flocks (7 PCR positive and 17 negative) was investigated for the presence of serum antibodies by ELISA test on 1,011 ewes (approximately 30 ewes per flock). A total of 8.9% of the animals were seropositive, 67.6% of the flocks had at least one seropositive animal, but only in 14.7% of them was seroprevalence greater than 25%. Older ewes showed a significantly greater prevalence (17.5%) compared with yearlings (7.5%) or replacement lambs (1.5%). A marginally significant association was found between seroprevalence and PCR detection of C. burnetii in bulk-tank milk. The widespread distribution of C. burnetii in the region advocates for the implementation of Q fever control strategies and highlights the potential risk of sheep as a reservoir and infection source for other domestic and wildlife species and the human population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Coxiella burnetii / genetics
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology
  • Coxiella burnetii / physiology*
  • Female
  • Milk / cytology
  • Milk / microbiology*
  • Q Fever / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / immunology
  • Q Fever / veterinary*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Sheep Diseases / immunology
  • Spain / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial