Abstract
Q fever is a worldwide zoonotic disease reported in humans and many animal species including cattle. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of Coxiella (C.) burnetii shedding in Polish dairy cattle herds and to identify the pathogen’s genotypes and sequence types (STs) using multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and multispacer sequence typing (MST) methods. The presence of C. burnetii DNA was detected using a commercial real-time PCR kit, targeting the IS1111 element. Overall, 1,439 samples from 279 herds were tested including: 897 individual milk specimens, 101 bulk tank milk samples, 409 genital tract swabs and 32 placentas. Furthermore, 30 consumer milk samples, including 10 from vending machines and 77 dairy products were also analyzed. C. burnetii shedding was confirmed in 31.54% of tested cattle herds as well as in 69.16% of consumer milk and dairy products. Among real-time PCR–positive samples, 49 specimens obtained from 49 cattle herds and 8 samples of purchased dairy products were selected for genotyping. Overall, five previously known MLVA genotypes (I, J, BG, BE, and NM) and three new ones (proposed as PL1, PL2, and PL3) were identified. Two MST sequence types were recorded: ST16 and a novel sequence (ST61). The new genotypes and sequence types need further research particularly into their pathogenicity to humans.
Highlights
Q fever is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease caused by Coxiella (C.) burnetii–an obligate intracellular bacterium
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of C. burnetii in Polish dairy cattle herds and in consumer milk and dairy products in Poland, identify multispacer sequence typing (MST) and multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) genotypes, and compare these with those published in literature and databases
The most common MLVA genotype was I (6-13-2-7-9-9), which was identified in 11 individual milk samples and one placenta specimen originating from six voivodeships
Summary
Q fever is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease caused by Coxiella (C.) burnetii–an obligate intracellular bacterium. The range of this pathogen’s hosts is broad including domestic and wild mammals, birds and arthropods [1,2,3]. The domestic ruminants, mainly sheep and goats, are consider to be major reservoirs and source of infection for humans [4,5,6]. In these species, especially in cattle, C. burnetii infections are often asymptomatic. APSW symptoms are rare in cattle, even chronic infection may be imperceptible and confirmed only through laboratory tests
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