Abstract
A cross‑sectional survey was carried out in dairy cattle and buffalo herds from the Southern Italy to detect antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. From 2014 to 2018, 402 herds were monitored and 50 mL of bulk‑tank milk (BTM) per farm was analyzed by indirect ELISA. Blood samples of animals from positive farms were also taken and analyzed with the same ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence was 35% [95% Confidence interval (CI):30‑39] at herd level and 13% (95%CI:13‑14) at animal level. Herd province seroprevalences ranged from 17% to 75%. The provinces of Matera (71%, 95%CI:38‑105) and Agrigento (75%, 95%CI:51‑100) showed the highest percentage of infected farms. These results describe the widespread distribution of C. burnetii in livestock from Southern Italy, highlighting the need to implement a monitoring program for Q fever.
References
Agger J.F., Paul S., Christoffersen A.B. & Agerholm J.S. 2013. Risk factors for Coxiella burnetii antibodies in bulk tank milk from Danish dairy herds. Acta Vet Scand, 55, 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751‑0147‑55‑80.
Arricau‑Bouvery N. & Rodolakis A. 2005. Is Q Fever an emerging or re‑emerging zoonosis? Vet Res, 36, 327‑349. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2005010 327.
Barlozzari G., Sala M., Iacoponi F., Volpi C., Polinori N., Rombolà P., Vairo F., Macrì G. & Scarpulla M. 2020. Cross‑sectional serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in healthy cattle and sheep from extensive grazing system in central Italy. Epidemiol Infect, 148, 1‑8. https://doi. org/10.1017/S0950268819002115.
Cannon M. & Roe R.T. 1982. Livestock disease surveys: a field manual for veterinarians.Duron O., Sidi‑Boumedine K., Rousset E., Moutailler S. & Jourdain E. 2015. The importance of ticks in Q fever transmission: what has (and has not) been demonstrated? Trends Parasitol, 31, 536‑552. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2015.06.014.
Fanelli A., Buonavoglia D., Martinez Carrasco Pleite C. & Tizzani P. 2020. Paratuberculosis at European scale: an overview from 2010 to 2017. Vet Ital, 56 (1), 13‑21. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1829.9692.3.
Fanelli A. & Tizzani P. 2020. Spatial and temporal analysis of varroosis from 2005 to 2018. Res Vet Sci, 131, 215‑221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.04.017.
Gale P., Kelly L., Mearns R., Duggan J. & Snary E.L. 2015. Q fever through consumption of unpasteurised milk and milk products ‑ a risk profile and exposure assessment. J Appl Microbiol, 118, 1083‑1095. https:// doi.org/10.1111/jam.12778.
Galluzzo P., Villari S., Geraci F., Sciacca C., Grippi F., Currò V. & Chiarenza G. 2019. Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in dairy cattle from Sicily. Vet Ital, 55, 247‑252. https:// doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1391.7602.2.
Guidi F., Petruzzelli A., Ciarrocchi F., Duranti A., Valiani A., Amagliani G. & Blasi G. 2017. Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cows’ and ewes’ bulk tank milk samples from selected dairy farms of Central Italy. Ital J Anim Sci, 16, 673‑676. https://doi.org/10.1080/182805 1X.2017.1321474.
Masala G., Porcu R., Sanna G., Chessa G., Cillara G., Chisu V. & Tola S. 2004. Occurrence, distribution, and role in abortion of Coxiella burnetii in sheep and goats in Sardinia, Italy. Vet Microbiol, 99, 301‑305. https://doi.org/10.1016.j.vetmic.2004.01.006.
Paul S., Agger J.F., Agerholm J.S. & Markussen B. 2014. Prevalence and risk factors of Coxiella burnetiiseropositivity in Danish beef and dairy cattle at slaughter adjusted for test uncertainty. Prev Vet Med, 113, 504‑511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. prevetmed.2014.01.018.
Pimenta L., Alegria N., Anastácio S., Sidi‑Boumedine K., da Silva G., Rabiço Â. & Simões J. 2015. Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in Portuguese dairy cattle herds. Trop Anim Health Prod, 47, 227‑230. https://doi. org/10.1007/s11250‑014‑0679‑1.
Rizzo F., Vitale N., Ballardini M., Borromeo V., Luzzago C., Chiavacci L. & Mandola M.L. 2016. Q fever seroprevalence and risk factors in sheep and goats in northwest Italy. Prev Vet Med, 130, 10‑17. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.05.014.
Ruiz‑Fons F., Astobiza I., Barandika J., Hurtado A., Atxaerandio R., Juste R. & García‑Pérez A. 2010. Seroepidemiological study of Q fever in domestic ruminants in semi‑extensive grazing systems. BMC Vet Res,6, 1‑6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746‑6148‑6‑3.
Ryan E.D., Kirby M., Collins D.M., Sayers R., Mee J.F. & Clegg T. 2011. Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) antibodies in bovine serum and bulk‑milk samples. Epidemiol Infect, 139, 1413‑1417. https://doi. org/10.1017/S0950268810002530.
Schimmer B., Schotten N., van Engelen E., Hautvast J.L.A., Schneeberger P.M. & van Duijnhoven Y.T.H.P. 2014. Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and risk for humans on dairy cattle farms, the Netherlands, 2010‑2011. Emerg Infect Dis, 20, 417‑425. https://doi.org/10.3201/ eid2003.131111.
Van Asseldonk M.A.P.M., Prins J. & Bergevoet R.H.M. 2013. Economic assessment of Q fever in the Netherlands. Prev Vet Med, 112, 27‑34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.06.002.