Abstract
In Algeria, data on the epidemiology of coxiellosis in cattle are still lacking. In this study, bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 200 randomly selected dairy cattle herds from Setif province of Algeria were analyzed by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results highlighted that 37% (95% CI: 30.31–43.69%) and 9% (95% CI: 5.03–12.96%) of BTM samples contained Coxiella burnetii antibodies and DNA, respectively. Based on Cohen’s kappa coefficient, a very low agreement between the ELISA and PCR results was found (k = 0.0849) (95% CI: 0.00–0.189). For a second experiment, 186 whole blood samples of cows from farms with reproduction disorders were analyzed by molecular tools to detect C. burnetii. This study revealed an overall prevalence of 6.98% (95% CI: 3.32–10.65%). All positive samples determined by conventional PCR were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Eleven samples with cycle threshold (Ct) values lower than 35 were selected for genotyping by the multispacer sequence typing (MST) method. The MST12 genotype in BTM samples, the MST32 genotype and a new MST genotype (partial profile) in whole blood samples were identified. Obtained results have allowed us to better understand the epidemiology of bovine coxiellosis in the region of Setif.
Highlights
Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic intracellular bacterium that has a wall similar to that of gram-negative bacterium, but it is not stainable by the Gram stain [1]
Serological analysis of the 200 bulk tank milk (BTM) tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) evidenced 74 herds positive to the presence of anti-C. burnetii antibodies (37%; 95% CI: 30.31%–43.69%)
The results of this study showed that 37% and 9% of dairy herds contained C. burnetii antibodies and C. burnetii DNA, respectively, in the Setif region of Algeria
Summary
Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic intracellular bacterium that has a wall similar to that of gram-negative bacterium, but it is not stainable by the Gram stain [1] It causes Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in animals [2]. The acute form manifests with fever, atypical pneumonia and hepatitis; the chronic type presents long-term sequelae, including fatigue, abortions and heart disease [7]. Both animals and humans could be infected through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols generated from the excreta of infected animals [8]. C. burnetii is extremely resistant, remaining viable in the environment over long periods [15] in hot and dry weather conditions [10,16]
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