Coxiella burnetii detected in three species of endangered North African gazelles that recently aborted

Abstract

Coxiella (C.) burnetii is the etiological agent of the zoonotic disease known a Q fever. This agent can infect multiple hosts although its pathogenic potential in wild ruminants has been poorly studied. The polymerase chain reaction and the serological test detected the presence of C. burnetii in a population of North African gazelles (n = 355), comprising dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas neglecta), dama gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr) and Cuvier's gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) which, some of them, they recently aborted. Serological tests for Brucella spp., C. burnetii, Chlamydophila abortus, border disease pestivirus, and Toxoplasma spp. were performed together with specific cultures to detect Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and Campylobacter spp. and a polymerase chain reaction for C. burnetii on serum and vaginal swabs samples collected from a representative number of animals (n = 65). These tests only detected the presence of C. burnetii in 18 specimens (27.3%). C. burnetii was the only pathogen detected, with eight animals testing positive on the polymerase chain reaction, 15 on the serological test, and five on both the tests. This article reveals the presence of C. burnetii during a medium and late-stage abortions occurred in a population of North African gazelles. The presence of C. burnetii as causal agent of abortions in Cuvier's gazelles has never been reported. The consequences of the findings are discussed here, showing the need to adopt urgent control measures to prevent the spread of C. burnetii in captive populations that are essential for the conservation of these endangered species.