Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and Q fever in Australian wildlife rehabilitators

Mathews, Karen O.; Toribio, Jenny-Ann; Norris, Jacqueline M.; Phalen, David N.; Wood, Nicholas; Graves, Stephen; Sheehy, Paul A.; Bosward, Katrina L.

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100197

Cited by 14 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The serum samples tested in this study were obtained opportunistically from a previous cross-sectional study investigating Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in AWRs. To be eligible to participate in this study, AWRs were required to be >18 years and to have rehabilitated Australian mammals [36]. Participants from the aforementioned study who elected to receive their Q fever serology results and provided their contact details for this purpose, were invited to participate in the current study via a hyperlink or web address to the secure online platform REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) [71,72] hosted at The University of Sydney, where they could access a detailed participant information statement (PIS).…”

Section: Study Design and Participant Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sample size for this study was calculated using Statulator software [73]. Assuming a nationwide average of 2% seroprevalence to SFG rickettsia (control group in the rogainer study by Abdad, Cook, Dyer, Stenos and Fenwick [35], an expected response rate of 15% (serosurvey of veterinary workers [74]) and a national wildlife rehabilitator population size of 14,358 [36], this study would require a sample size of 103 AWRs for estimating seroprevalence to Rickettsia spp. with 7.0% absolute precision and 95% confidence.…”

Section: Sample Size Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The paper-based questionnaire (Supplementary S1) completed by each participant at the time of blood sample collection been previously described [36]. Of relevance to the current study were questions regarding: (i) demographics of the rehabilitator and where they rehabilitated wildlife, (ii) the type of wildlife they rehabilitated and other animals located on or nearby to the caring residence (iii) their rehabilitation and husbandry practices which included a question regarding the frequency of tick bites.…”

Section: Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Descriptive statistics (mean, median and range for continuous variables, proportions for categorical variables) were generated to obtain information regarding the distribution of each variable. Continuous variables and questions regarding animal exposure and postcode of residence were handled as previously described [36]. Categories with 10% missing data were excluded in the statistical analysis.…”

Section: Variables and Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Australian wildlife rehabilitators (AWRs) are potentially at risk of contracting rickettsioses because the wildlife for which they care may harbour ticks, fleas, lice and mites, all of which are rickettsial vectors, however the degree of Rickettsia exposure amongst this population is unknown. In a study investigating the zoonotic disease Q fever in a cohort of AWRs, 43.8% of participants reported having been bitten by a tick [36], indicating that AWRs are potentially at risk of rickettsioses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to: (1) determine the level of prior exposure to Rickettsia spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serological Evidence of Exposure to Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsiae in Australian Wildlife Rehabilitators

et al. 2021

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Rickettsioses are arthropod-borne zoonotic diseases, several of which occur in Australia. This study aimed to assess the exposure levels and risk factors for Rickettsia spp. among Australian wildlife rehabilitators (AWRs) using serology, PCR and a questionnaire. Antibody titres against Spotted Fever Group (SFG), Typhus Group (TG) and Scrub Typhus Group (STG) antigens were determined using an immunofluorescence assay. PCR targeting the gltA gene was performed on DNA extracts from whole blood and serum. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity. Of the 27 (22.1%; 27/122) seropositive participants all were seropositive for SFG, with 5/27 (4.1%) also positive for TG. Of the 27 positive sera, 14.8% (4/27) were further classified as exposure to R. australis, 3.7% (1/27) to R. honei, 3.7% (1/27) to R. felis and 77.8% (21/27) were classified as ‘indeterminate’—most of which (85.7%; 18/21) were indeterminate R. australis/R. honei exposures. Rickettsia DNA was not detected in whole blood or serum. Rehabilitators were more likely to be seropositive if more than one household member rehabilitated wildlife, were older than 50 years or had occupational animal contact. These findings suggest that AWRs are at increased risk of contracting Rickettsia-related illnesses, however the source of the increased seropositivity remains unclear.

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Section: Study Design and Participant Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Size Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Variables and Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serological Evidence of Exposure to Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsiae in Australian Wildlife Rehabilitators

et al. 2021

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Prevalence and risk factors associated with Q fever infection in slaughterhouse workers in Fars province, Iran

Zakeri

Montaseri

Shekarforoush

2023

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in blood samples of turtles (Testudo graeca) and their associated ticks

Khademi,

Tukmechi,

Ownagh

et al. 2023

Eur J Wildl Res

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Coxiella burnetii can cause the zoonotic disease of Q fever, which has been recorded in numerous distinctive species. Hyalomma aegyptium can be classi ed as a hard-tick completing its life cycle through three hosts. Epidemiologically, the spread of pathogens by H. aegyptium between different hosts can be critical. The objective of the present investigation was to detect C. burnetii in blood samples of turtles and H. aegyptium ticks attached to them in northwest of Iran (Oshnavieh). A total of 500 engorged mature ticks and 100 blood samples were obtained from 100 tortoises. A nested-PCR targeting IS1111 and icd genes with speci c primers were used to diagnose C. burnetii. From 100 tick pool samples based on IS1111 gene, 10 were infected with C. burnetii (10%; 95% CI: 5.5-17.4). The rate of infection with C. burnetii based on the icd gene in tick samples was 6%; 95% CI: 2.8%-12.5%. In addition, the level of contamination of turtle blood with C. burnetii based on the IS1111 gene was 5%; 95% CI: 2.2%-11.2%. The contamination rate of the blood based on icd gene was 3%; 95% CI: 1%-8.5%. In conclusion, infected tortoises and H. aegyptium ticks with C. burnetii may play a vital part in the transmission of this pathogenic agent to both human and other animals. Additionally, appropriate public health measures should be implemented to decrease the circulation of the pathogen between various hosts.

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Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and Q fever in Australian wildlife rehabilitators

Cited by 14 publications

References 52 publications

Serological Evidence of Exposure to Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsiae in Australian Wildlife Rehabilitators

Serological Evidence of Exposure to Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsiae in Australian Wildlife Rehabilitators

Prevalence and risk factors associated with Q fever infection in slaughterhouse workers in Fars province, Iran

Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in blood samples of turtles (Testudo graeca) and their associated ticks

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