Abstract
This study aims to detect Coxiella burnetii in one-humped female camels (Camelus dromedarius) using ELISA and confirmation of infection by PCR with the phylogenetic analysis of local isolates. The 91 adult female camels were selected for clinical examination and blood sampling from different areas in Badra and Al-Numaniyah districts in Wasit governorate, Iraq, from February to April 2019. The prevalence of Coxiella(C.) burnetii was 19.8% and 4.4% by ELISA and PCR, respectively. Targeting 16S rRNA genes from three positive samples were documented in the Genbank-NCBI under accession numbers of MN900579.1, MN900580.1, and MN900581.1. Clinical evaluation revealed insignificant variation in temperature, pulse, respiratory rates, and lymph node enlargement among the positive and negative animals. The findings also showed that camels of the Badra regions have positive signs. burnetii compared to other regions, and the infection was increased significantly in April and March. In conclusion, our findings confirmed the prevalence of C. burneth among Iraqi female camels, suggesting that these animals might be a source of the pathogen for humans and other animal species. Therefore, further studies are necessary to provide more detailed data about the prevalence of C. burnetiito to improve effective control measures.
Highlights
The Coxiella (C.) burnetii is an obligate intracellular, Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium belonging to the Coxiellaceae family of Legionellales order, which causes a highly contagious neglected zoonotic disease known as Q (Query) fever [1]
10 ml of jugular venous blood was drained from each camel under aseptic conditions and divided into without- and with-anticoagulant (EDTA) tubes to be used for serology and molecular assay, respectively
The serological analysis showed that out of 91 serum samples tested by ELISA, 18 (19.8%) (95% Confidence limits 11.6-28.0%) were positive for C. burnetii
Summary
The Coxiella (C.) burnetii is an obligate intracellular, Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium belonging to the Coxiellaceae family of Legionellales order, which causes a highly contagious neglected zoonotic disease known as Q (Query) fever [1]. Many studies reported that this pathogen is considered a potential agent for bioterrorism due to its highly high infectivity (one bacterium may produce disease) in humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals and its survival under harsh environmental conditions [2]. Numerous studies investigate the prevalence of Coxiella in camels such as the United Arab Emirates [7], Egypt [8], Algeria [9], Saudi Arabia [10], and Iran [11]. These studies showed that the prevalence of C. burnetii varies widely by geographical location, type of management, and flock numbers. The isolation of C. burnetii by inoculation of the yolk sac of 5-7 old chick embryos or in vitro tissue
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