Prevalence ofCoxiella burnetiiin Traditional and Industrial Butter and Cream Using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction in Shahrekord, Iran

Maryam Reisi,Ebrahim Rahimi,Manouchehr Momeni

doi:10.34172/ajcmi.2019.12

Abstract

Background: A zoonotic disease of global importance known as "Q fever" is caused by Coxiella burnetii agent. The aim of the present research was to determine C. burnetii in the traditional and industrial butter and cream samples in Shahrekord, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from March to September 2016. Totally, 200 traditional and industrial butter and cream samples were collected from retailers in different regions of Shahrekord and then tested for C. burnetii via nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Results: In this survey, a total of 6 out of 200 samples (3%) were found to be positive for C. burnetii. More precisely, 4 (5.79%), 1 (5%), and 1 (2.56%) samples were related to the traditional bovine cream, traditional sheep butter, and traditional bovine butter samples, respectively. Nevertheless, no C. burnetii infections were found in the industrial butter and cream samples. Conclusions: These results proved that traditional dairy products can be considered as an important reservoir for C. burnetii infection in Iran.

Highlights

A zoonotic disease of global importance known as “Q fever” is caused by Coxiella burnetii agent
A number of 200 traditional and industrial butter and cream samples were experimented in Shahrekord and were reported to have C. burnetii using the Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Table 2 and Figure 1)
4 out of 69 (5.79%) traditional bovine cream samples, 1 out of 20 (5%) traditional sheep butter samples, 1 out of 39 (2.56%) traditional bovine butter samples were positive for C. burnetii

Summary

Introduction

A zoonotic disease of global importance known as “Q fever” is caused by Coxiella burnetii agent. The aim of the present research was to determine C. burnetii in the traditional and industrial butter and cream samples in Shahrekord, Iran. 200 traditional and industrial butter and cream samples were collected from retailers in different regions of Shahrekord and tested for C. burnetii via nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. No C. burnetii infections were found in the industrial butter and cream samples. Conclusions: These results proved that traditional dairy products can be considered as an important reservoir for C. burnetii infection in Iran. Coxiella burnetii is an agent of zoonosis diseases that occur in humans and animals. There can be several routes of infection in humans, including oral transmission via contaminated raw milk and dairy products the inhalation of contaminated aerosols stands on top [3]

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Conclusion