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

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 92; no. 4; p. 1581
• Main Authors: García-Pérez, A L, Astobiza, I, Barandika, J F, Atxaerandio, R, Hurtado, A, Juste, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-2009
• Subjects: 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; Spain
• ISSN: 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2008-1672

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.