Seroepidemiology of Coxiella burnetii among wildlife in Nova Scotia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1993 Nov;49(5):613-5. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1993.49.613.

Abstract

We used an indirect immunofluorescence assay to determine antibody titers to phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii antigens in serum samples from a variety of wild animals in Nova Scotia. Forty-nine percent of the hares, 16.5% of the moose, 7.1% of the raccoons, and 1.5% of the white-tailed deer tested had antibodies to phase I antigen. We conclude that there is extensive infection of the hare population by C. burnetii, with lesser degrees of infection of the moose, raccoon, and deer population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology*
  • Deer*
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Lagomorpha*
  • Nova Scotia / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Q Fever / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / veterinary*
  • Rabbits
  • Raccoons*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial