Volume 180, Issues 1–2, 22 October 2015, Pages 136–141
Highlights
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- Higher prevalence of Coxiella burnetii DNA in goats than in sheep and cattle.
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- Three new MLVA-6 profiles–CN, CO, CP–in Egyptian mongoose samples.
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- Likely association of Coxiella MLVA types to host species.
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii
is the etiological agent of Q fever or Coxiellosis, a zoonosis mainly
affecting domestic ruminants. Information on the population structure
and epidemiology of C. burnetii in animals is scarce in Portugal. Evidence of C. burnetti
infection was sought in domestic, wild and captive animals based on the
detection of bacterial DNA. Tissue samples from 152 domestic animals
(cattle = 24, goats = 51, sheep = 76 and swine = 1), 55 wild carnivores
(Egyptian mongoose = 45, red fox = 4, common genet = 3, weasel = 2 and
European badger = 1) and 22 zoo animals (antelopes = 15, impala = 1;
rhinoceros = 1, deer = 2, zebras = 2 and giraffe = 1) were screened by
nested-touchdown PCR. Cloacae swabs from 19 griffon vultures were also
analysed. Among the domestic ruminants, goats presented the highest
prevalence of infection (23.53%), followed by cattle, (20.83%) and sheep
(10.53%). C. burnetii DNA was also detected in five Egyptian
mongooses and two antelopes and one giraffe. Using a 6-locus
multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-6) six
complete genotypes, T, I and CM and the first reported CN, CO and CP,
were identified, respectively, in small ruminants and Egyptian
mongooses. Clustering analysis of genotypes exposed four distinct
groups, according to detection source, enlightening an apparent
association between C. burnetii genotype and host.
Keywords
- Q Fever;
- Coxiella burnetii;
- Reproductive disorders;
- Zoonosis;
- MLVA-6 typing;
- Wild carnivores
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
