Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy
Due to its economic impact on livestock and its zoonotic effect, Q fever is a public and animal health problem. Information on this infection in Italy is presently supported by reports of reproductive problems in livestock farms and is, therefore, insufficient to properly understand the impact of th...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/901 |
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| author | Gianmarco Ferrara Barbara Colitti Ugo Pagnini Danila D’Angelo Giuseppe Iovane Sergio Rosati Serena Montagnaro |
| author_facet | Gianmarco Ferrara Barbara Colitti Ugo Pagnini Danila D’Angelo Giuseppe Iovane Sergio Rosati Serena Montagnaro |
| author_sort | Gianmarco Ferrara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to its economic impact on livestock and its zoonotic effect, Q fever is a public and animal health problem. Information on this infection in Italy is presently supported by reports of reproductive problems in livestock farms and is, therefore, insufficient to properly understand the impact of the disease. This study aimed to describe for the first time the seroprevalence of Q fever in dairy cows and water buffalos in the Campania region (Southern Italy). A total of 424 dairy cattle and 214 water buffalo were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 11.7% confirmed the wide distribution of <i>C. burnetii</i> in this region. Several factors were positively associated with higher seroprevalence, such as species (higher in cattle than in water buffalo), age, and coexistence with other ruminant species. The final model of logistic regression included only age (older) and species (cattle), which were positively associated with the presence of Q fever antibodies. Our findings support the widespread presence of <i>Coxiella burnettii</i> in Campania and show a seroprevalence similar to that observed in previous studies in other Italian regions and European countries. Since human cases are typically linked to contact with infected ruminants, there is a need to improve surveillance for this infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:59:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77457269f8b84848befd4a8ad81077cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:59:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-77457269f8b84848befd4a8ad81077cd2023-12-03T14:15:36ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-08-0111890110.3390/pathogens11080901Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, ItalyGianmarco Ferrara0Barbara Colitti1Ugo Pagnini2Danila D’Angelo3Giuseppe Iovane4Sergio Rosati5Serena Montagnaro6Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, ItalyDue to its economic impact on livestock and its zoonotic effect, Q fever is a public and animal health problem. Information on this infection in Italy is presently supported by reports of reproductive problems in livestock farms and is, therefore, insufficient to properly understand the impact of the disease. This study aimed to describe for the first time the seroprevalence of Q fever in dairy cows and water buffalos in the Campania region (Southern Italy). A total of 424 dairy cattle and 214 water buffalo were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 11.7% confirmed the wide distribution of <i>C. burnetii</i> in this region. Several factors were positively associated with higher seroprevalence, such as species (higher in cattle than in water buffalo), age, and coexistence with other ruminant species. The final model of logistic regression included only age (older) and species (cattle), which were positively associated with the presence of Q fever antibodies. Our findings support the widespread presence of <i>Coxiella burnettii</i> in Campania and show a seroprevalence similar to that observed in previous studies in other Italian regions and European countries. Since human cases are typically linked to contact with infected ruminants, there is a need to improve surveillance for this infection.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/901<i>Coxiellosis</i>Q feverserosurvey |
| spellingShingle | Gianmarco Ferrara Barbara Colitti Ugo Pagnini Danila D’Angelo Giuseppe Iovane Sergio Rosati Serena Montagnaro Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy Pathogens <i>Coxiellosis</i> Q fever serosurvey |
| title | Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy |
| title_full | Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy |
| title_fullStr | Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy |
| title_short | Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy |
| title_sort | serological evidence of q fever among dairy cattle and buffalo populations in the campania region italy |
| topic | <i>Coxiellosis</i> Q fever serosurvey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/901 |
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