scholarly journals Q Fever: Current State of Knowledge and Perspectives of Research of a Neglected Zoonosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Rebecca Porter ◽  
Guy Czaplicki ◽  
Jacques Mainil ◽  
Raphaël Guattéo ◽  
Claude Saegerman
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Current State ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Financial Consequences ◽  
And Control

Q fever is an ubiquitous zoonosis caused by an resistant intracellular bacterium,Coxiella burnetii. In certain areas, Q fever can be a severe public health problem, and awareness of the disease must be promoted worldwide. Nevertheless, knowledge ofCoxiella burnetiiremains limited to this day. Its resistant (intracellular and environmental) and infectious properties have been poorly investigated. Further understanding of the interactions between the infected host and the bacteria is necessary. Domestic ruminants are considered as the main reservoir of bacteria. Infected animals shed highly infectious organisms in milk, feces, urine, vaginal mucus, and, very importantly, birth products. Inhalation is the main route of infection. Frequently asymptomatic in humans and animals, Q fever can cause acute or chronic infections. Financial consequences of infection can be dramatic at herd level. Vaccination with inactive whole-cell bacteria has been performed and proved effective in humans and animals. However, inactive whole-cell vaccines present several defects. Recombinant vaccines have been developed in experimental conditions and have great potential for the future. Q fever is a challenging disease for scientists as significant further investigations are necessary. Great research opportunities are available to reach a better understanding and thus a better prevention and control of the infection.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of an Immunodominant 28-Kilodalton Coxiella burnetii Outer Membrane Protein Specific to Isolates Associated with Acute Disease

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 1561-1567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoquan Zhang ◽  
Ho To ◽  
Kasi E. Russell ◽  
Laura R. Hendrix ◽  
Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Specific Antibody ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Acute Disease ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Putative Gene ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Chronic Group ◽  
Acute Group

ABSTRACT Coxiella burnetii causes acute Q fever in humans and occasional chronic infections that typically manifest as endocarditis or hepatitis. Isolates associated with acute disease were found to be distinct from a group of chronic disease isolates by a variety of biochemical parameters and in a guinea pig fever model of acute disease, suggesting a difference in virulence potential. We compared antigenic polypeptides among C. burnetii isolates and found an immunodominant 28-kDa protein in acute group isolates but not in chronic group isolates (T. Ho, A. Hotta, G. Q. Zhang, S. V. Nguyen, M. Ogawa, T. Yamaguchi, H. Fukushi, and K. Hirai, Microbiol. Immunol. 42:81-85, 1998). In order to clone the adaA gene, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of adaA was determined and a 59-bp fragment was amplified from Nine Mile phase I DNA by PCR. The putative gene fragment was used to screen a lambda ZAP II genomic DNA library, and an open reading frame expressing a 28-kDa immunoreactive protein was identified. Sequence analysis predicted a gene encoding an ∼28-kDa mature protein with a typical signal sequence. The adaA (acute disease antigen A) gene was detected in acute group C. burnetii isolates but not identified in chronic group isolates by PCR and Southern blotting. A typical signal peptide was predicted in adaA, and specific antibody to adaA reacted with the purified membrane fraction of acute group isolates by Western blotting, suggesting that adaA is exposed on the outer surface of C. burnetii. adaA was overexpressed in pET23a as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli to develop anti-recombinant adaA (anti-radaA) specific antibody, which recognized a ∼28-kDa band in acute group isolates but not in chronic group isolates. In addition, immunoblotting indicates that radaA reacted with sera derived from animals infected with acute group isolates but did not react with sera from animals infected with chronic group isolates. These results support the idea that an adaA gene-targeted PCR assay and an radaA antigen-based serodiagnostic test may be useful for differential diagnosis of acute and chronic Q fever.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Diagnostic Potential of Recombinant Coxiella burnetii Com1 in an ELISA for the Diagnosis of Q Fever in Sheep, Goats and Cattle

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareike Stellfeld ◽  
Claudia Gerlach ◽  
Ina-Gabriele Richter ◽  
Peter Miethe ◽  
Dominika Fahlbusch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Diagnostic Potential ◽  
Assay Performance ◽  
Higher Sensitivity

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis infecting domestic ruminants and humans. Currently used routine diagnostic tools offer limited sensitivity and specificity and symptomless infected animals may be missed. Therefore, diagnostic tools of higher sensitivity and specificity must be developed. For this purpose, the C. burnetii outer membrane protein Com1 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The His-tagged recombinant protein was purified and used in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Assay performance was tested with more than 400 positive and negative sera from sheep, goats and cattle from 36 locations. Calculation of sensitivity and specificity was undertaken using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The sensitivities and specificities for sheep were 85% and 68% (optical density at 450nm, OD450 cut-off value 0.32), for goats 94% and 77% (OD450 cut-off value 0.23) and for cattle 71% and 70% (OD450 cut-off value 0.18), respectively. These results correspond to excellent, outstanding and acceptable discrimination of positive and negative sera. In summary, recombinant Com1 can provide a basis for more sensitive and specific diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine.

scholarly journals Q fever in Quebec (1989–93): Report of 14 Cases

1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Goyette ◽  
André Poirier ◽  
Jean Bouchard ◽  
Eric Morrier
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Serological Screening ◽  
Rural Region ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
The World

Q fever, a zoonosis acquired by inhalation of the rickettsiaCoxiella burnetii, is rarely diagnosed in Canada. The world incidence has been increasing since 1960, because of progressive dissemination of this microorganism in animal populations, particularly domestic ruminants. Some recent outbreaks were caused by cats. Of 14 cases reported in Quebec between 1989 and the beginning of 1993, nine occurred successively in an 18-month period in the rural region surrounding Trois-Rivières, after contact with livestock or cats. These cases are reported here, with the results of serological screening of the workers of an abattoir where one of the cases worked. Five additional cases reported in Quebec during the same period are briefly reviewed.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii infection in aborted samples of domestic ruminants in Iran

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250116
Author(s):  
Ashraf Mohabati Mobarez ◽  
Mohammad Khalili ◽  
Ehsan Mostafavi ◽  
Saber Esmaeili
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Domestic Ruminant ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Pcr Targeting ◽  
Different Parts

Background Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever which is a highly infectious zoonotic disease. C. burnetii has become one of the most important causes of abortion in livestock, which can lead to widespread abortions in these animals. There are very limited studies on the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in cases of animal abortion in Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of C. burnetii in ruminant abortion samples in Iran. Methods Abortion samples from cattle, sheep and goats were collected from different parts of Iran and were tested using Real-time PCR targeting the IS1111 element of C. burnetii. Results In this study, 36 samples (24.7%) of the 146 collected samples were positive for C. burnetii. The prevalence of C. burnetii was 21.3% (20 of 94 samples) in sheep samples. Also, 10 of 46 cattle samples (21.7%) were positive. All six goat abortion samples were positive for C. burnetii. Conclusions The findings of the study demonstrate that C. burnetii plays an important role in domestic ruminant abortions in Iran, suggesting that more attention should be paid to the role of C. burnetii in domestic animal abortions by veterinary organizations. The risk of transmitting the infection to humans due to abortion of animals should also be considered.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii among ewes and associated risk factors in Constantine (Northeastern Algeria)

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 2383
Author(s):  
S. HIRECHE ◽  
A. AGABOU ◽  
Ο. BOUAZIZ
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Pest Infestation ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Eastern Algeria ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the rickettsia-like Coxiella burnetii and leads to abortions and decreased reproductive performances in domestic ruminants. A serological survey, using ELISA test, was conducted to assess the prevalence of this infection in 226 ewes belonging to 39 flocks localized in Constantine (North-eastern Algeria). A pretested questionnaire has been submitted to farmers/shepherds to collect information related to relevant risk factors. Results revealed the presence of C. burnetii antibodies in 12.4% (95% CI: 8.08%−16.72%) of individual animals while 35.9% (95% CI: 21.20%−52.82%) of sampled flocks accounted at least one seropositive ewe. Significant causative associations were observed for origin of animals (χ2=14.29, P=0.001), vaccination against enterotoxaemia (χ2=12.12, P=0.002) and pox (χ2=5.30, P=0.025), access to the farm by foreign visitors (χ2=10.87, P=0.004), farmers/shepherds’ visits to other farms (χ2=6.31, P=0.021), disinfection frequency (χ2=7.98, P=0.046), pest infestation within farms (χ2=9.55, P=0.049) and abortion history (χ2=5.54, P=0.029). This recorded prevalence of Coxiella infection would indicate a possible responsibility of this agent in causing abortion and reproductive failures in the tested flocks. Implementing active surveillance programs and further investigations using more accurate analyses and including large samples of more animal species from several provinces are needed to eluci date the real occurrence and dynamics of this infection in the national livestock.

scholarly journals Phylogeography of Human and Animal Coxiella burnetii Strains: Genetic Fingerprinting of Q Fever in Belgium

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Tomaiuolo ◽  
Samira Boarbi ◽  
Tiziano Fancello ◽  
Patrick Michel ◽  
Damien Desqueper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Variable Number Tandem Repeat ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Apparent Prevalence ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Contamination Routes

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are the primary source for human infection, and the identification of likely contamination routes from the reservoir animals the critical point to implement control programs. This study shows that Q fever is detected in Belgium in abortion of cattle, goat and sheep at a different degree of apparent prevalence (1.93%, 9.19%, and 5.50%, respectively). In addition, and for the first time, it is detected in abortion of alpaca (Vicugna pacos), raising questions on the role of these animals as reservoirs. To determine the relationship between animal and human strains, Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) (n=146), Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (n=92) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) (n=4) methods were used to characterize samples/strains during 2009-2019. Three MLVA clusters (A, B, C) subdivided in 23 subclusters (A1-A12, B1-B8, C1-C3) and 3 SNP types (SNP1, SNP2, SNP6) were identified. The SNP2 type/MLVA cluster A was the most abundant and dispersed genotype over the entire territory, but it seemed not responsible for human cases, as it was only present in animal samples. The SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C clusters were mostly found in small ruminant and human samples, with the rare possibility of spillovers in cattle. SNP1/MLVA B cluster was present in all Belgian areas, while the SNP6/MLVA C cluster appeared more concentrated in the Western provinces. A broad analysis of European MLVA profiles confirmed the host-species distribution described for Belgian samples. In silico genotyping (WGS) further identified the spacer types and the genomic groups of C. burnetii Belgian strains: cattle and goat SNP2/MLVA A isolates belonged to ST61 and genomic group III, while the goat SNP1/MLVA B strain was classified as ST33 and genomic group II. In conclusion, Q fever is widespread in all Belgian domestic ruminants and in alpaca. We determined that the public health risk in Belgium is likely linked to specific genomic groups (SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C) mostly found in small ruminant strains. Considering the concordance between Belgian and European results, these considerations could be extended to other European countries.

Utilization of Standard Method Performance Requirements for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Environmental Samples

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Perry ◽  
Maureen A Conlon ◽  
Christina Egan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Environmental Sample ◽  
Standard Method ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Method Performance ◽  
Air Filters

Abstract Background Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, has been a long-standing public health problem. Animals can become infected and shed the organism resulting in aerosol transmission to humans. This organism has been considered to have potential for use as a bioterrorism weapon and has been placed on the Select Agent List which is regulated by Health and Human Services (HHS) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). There has been limited assay development for the detection of C. burnetii in environmental sample types Objective We describe utilization of the Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) for the detection of Coxiella in air filters and liquids for validation of additional environmental samples. Method The SMPR® for the detection of Coxiella in air filters and liquids was used to validate a real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) assay developed to detect C. burnetii DNA in powder samples submitted to the public health laboratory for biothreat analysis. Conclusions The SMPR® provided important requirements needed for appropriate validation of an assay to detect Coxiella nucleic acid in an environmental sample. The assay was found to be sensitive, robust, specific, and is useful for the detection of this select agent in powders. Highlights Development of detection assays for agents that are difficult to culture and have limited validation material available can be problematic for manufacturers. Using the SMPR® developed for the detection of Coxiella as well as the SMPR® for the detection of Variola, we demonstrate that assays can be appropriately validated using alternative approaches.

scholarly journals Is a One Health Approach Utilized for Q Fever Control? A Comprehensive Literature Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Rahaman ◽  
Adriana Milazzo ◽  
Helen Marshall ◽  
Peng Bi
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
One Health ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
And Control

Q fever, a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, is a significant public health problem with a potential for outbreaks to occur. Q fever prevention strategies should incorporate human, animal, and environmental domains. A One Health approach, which engages cross-sectoral collaboration among multiple stakeholders, may be an appropriate framework and has the underlying principles to control Q fever holistically. To assess whether components of One Health for Q fever prevention and control have been applied, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken. We found 16 studies that had practiced or recommended a One Health approach. Seven emerging themes were identified: Human risk assessment, human and animal serology, integrated human–animal surveillance, vaccination for at-risk groups, environmental management, multi-sectoral collaboration, and education and training. Within the multi-sectoral theme, we identified five subthemes: Policy and practice guidelines, information sharing and intelligence exchange, risk communication, joint intervention, and evaluation. One Health practices varied between studies possibly due to differences in intercountry policy, practice, and feasibility. However, the key issue of the need for multi-sectoral collaboration was highlighted across most of the studies. Further research is warranted to explore the barriers and opportunities of adopting a One Health approach in Q fever prevention and control.

scholarly journals SERO-MOLECULAR INVESTIGATION OF COXIELLA BURNETII INFECTION IN DOMESTIC RUMINANTS AND HUMANS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS BASED ON ‘ONE HEALTH’ PERSPECTIVES IN BANGLADESH

2021 ◽  
Vol 3, Issue 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Chakrabartty ◽  
N. Nahar ◽  
M. S. Rahman ◽  
A. K. M. A. Rahman ◽  
A. S. Sarker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
One Health ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
History Of

Background: Q-fever is an important zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii with wide host range of mammals, birds and arthropods worldwide. The prevalence of C. burnetii infection has been reported in domestic ruminants in Bangladesh with no attention on the ‘One Health’ approach for the epidemiological investigation associated with risk factors for prevention of the disease. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the sero-molecular prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection and associated risk factors in domestic ruminants and humans based on ‘One Health’ approach in Bangladesh Materials and Methods: This study on C. burnetii infection was conducted in cattle, goats and humans of the four randomly selected districts (Kurigram, Sirajgonj, Pabna and Mymensingh) in Bangladesh during the period from 2018 to 2021. A total of 162 and 172 serum samples respectively from cattle and goats with the reproductive disorders, 159 serum samples from human patients with pyrexia of unknown origin lasting over a period of three weeks and who were in close contact with animal, 119 milk samples from cows with reproductive disorders and 6 aborted materials from goat were collected from these selected districts for the detection of C. burnetii antibody by ELISA and DNA by PCR assay. The research was performed with the collaboration of OIE reference laboratory for Q fever, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Germany. Results: The overall sero-prevalence of C. burnetii infection by ELISA was 3.01% in cattle, 7.6 % in goats and 0.63% in humans. The highest sero-positivity was recorded in cattle in Mymensingh (4.5%) in comparison to Pabna (2.8%), Kurigram (2.5%) and Sirajgonj (2.4%) districts. Risk factors associated with higher sero-positivity of C. burnetii infection was recorded in cattle with  5 years (4.4%) than 3 to 5 years (2.1%), indigenous (4.2%) than cross-bred (2.6%), history of retention of placenta (5.6%) than abortion (2.3%) and natural service (5.9%) than artificial insemination (2.3%). The sero-positivity of C. burnetii infection in goat showed highest in Kurigram (10.0%), followed by Sirajgonj (9.5%) and Mymensingh (9.3%) with no positive reactors in Pabna district. Risk factors associated with sero-positivity of C. burnetii infection in goats showed higher in > 2 years (14.1%) than up to 2 years (2.1%) age group and higher with the history of abortion (10.0%) than retention of placenta (4.2%). Risk factors associated with positivity of C. burnetii infection detected in milk samples of cows by ELISA showed an overall 21.85% positivity associated with history of reproductive disorders, with highest positivity in anestrus (33.3%), followed by retention of placenta (24.4%), abortion (21.7%) and lowest with repeat breeding (8.3%). In addition, higher positivity was recorded in cross-bred (24.2%) than in indigenous (12.5%) cattle. In case of humans, only one human patient (0.63%) had positive for IgG phase-II ELISA. C. burnetii DNA was detected in two sero-positive milk samples but all of the intermediate positive milk samples by ELISA were negative by PCR assay and even none of the aborted material of goat was positive in PCR and cell culture. Conclusions: This study recorded the prevalence and risk factors associated with the zoonotic C. burnetii infection in both the domestic ruminants and humans but still it is unrecognized and underestimated in both human and animal health and research in Bangladesh. The findings of this study support the further research on C. burnetii in both human and veterinary medicine under ‘One Health’ approach particularly targeting epidemiology on the agent, host and environment for the control and prevention of the disease in Bangladesh. Keywords: C. burnetii, Ruminants, Humans, ELISA, PCR, Sera, Milk, Prevalence, Risk factors, ‘One Health’ approach

scholarly journals Emerging Aspects of Coxiella burnetii and Molecular Identification along with Treatment Approaches

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-50
Author(s):  
Arslan Habib ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Nabeel ◽  
Dominic Kwesi Quainoo ◽  
Umutumwa Eric Principe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
Atypical Pneumonia ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Shell Vial ◽  
Emerging Issues ◽  
Level 3

Q fever is an infectious disease caused by Coxiella burnetii which is an obligatory intracellular parasite. Globally Q fever is a widespread zoonosis. It is characterized by headaches, sudden fever and atypical pneumonia. In the rural environment, the main reservoir includes goats, sheep, cows, dogs, cats and rabbits. The main reservoir of this bacteria is considered domestic animals. They produce in a large number in amniotic fluid and placenta during childbirth. The main route of infection is inhalation. Q fever can cause both acute and chronic infection, mostly asymptomatic in humans and animals. Inactivated whole-cell bacteria vaccination strategy has been performed which provides effective outcomes in humans and animals but many side effects have been observed. The recombinant vaccine has been developed and provides many effective results in experimental conditions. One of the major challenges is the lack of accurate diagnosis facilities if it becomes possible, the prognosis of disease development can be reduced. Direct detection of bacteria is the accurate test for the diagnosis. Different procedures are involved in this method such as immunodetection, PCR amplification and shell vial cell culture. Due to the severe infectivity of C. burnetii all these procedures require a biosafety level 3 lab and qualified staff. Q fever is a challenging disease for scientists to reduce its burden globally. The review discloses the Coxiella burnetii genome, the clinical manifestation of Q fever as well as emerging issues, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and future directions.

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