Sero-Prevalence and Molecular Identification of Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) Among Human and Animals in Egypt

Saleh, Mohamed; El-Hady, A. M. M.; A. Abdelkader, Shimaa; S. S. Salem, Heba; M. Mohammed, M.; A.  El Shafei, A.; El-Shafei, Maher

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2021.95033.1291

Sero-Prevalence and Molecular Identification of Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) Among Human and Animals in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Bacteriology Department , Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki , Giza, Egypt

² Zoonosis Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

³ Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

10.21608/ejvs.2021.95033.1291

Abstract

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) bacteria, the infection by this microorganism cause abortion in ruminants and human febrile illness. Human infection is linked to abortions in goat, sheep and cattle. This study may give a spot light on determination of prevalence of Q fever among small and large ruminants in Egypt. Trails to isolate C. burnetii stated that vaginal swabs, aborted fetal fluid and fetal membrane act as main sources of human infection.
Seroprevalence of Q fever infection revealed that antibodies percentages against C. burnetii were 36 %, 27.8 %, 14.2 % and 12 % for cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats respectively. Isolation of it from fetal fluid and fetal membranes of aborted animals were 3/16 (18.8 %), 1/10 (20 %), /18 (33.3 %) and 4/17 (23.5 %) for cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats respectively. Molecular detection of C. burenetii from seropositive infected animals revealed that mixing species rearing flocks blood samples were 18/26 (69.2 %), 4/5 (80 %), 32/36 (88.9 %) and 19/23 (82.6 %), whereas fetal fluid and membranes of aborted feti isolation percentages were 4/6 (66.7 %), 6/8 (75 %), 12/14 (85.7 %) and 9/12 (75 %) for cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats respectively. Human lives close to infected and carrier animals and q fever disease is prevalent in Egypt this requires the attention of veterinary and public health authorities using One-Health approach in order to control its occurrence and save human lives.

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