Humoral immune response to Q fever vaccination of three sheep flocks naturally pre-infected with Coxiella burnetii

Bauer, B.; Knittler, Michael R.; Prüfer, T.; Wolf, Annika; Matthiesen, Svea; Runge, Martin; Ganter, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.01.062

Cited by 18 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Goat sera were examined with two phase-specific ELISAs (EUROIMMUN AG, Lübeck, Germany) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and this process has recently been described [ 46 ]. The test results were presented quantitatively in relative units (RU) determined by a standard curve.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance of Coxiella burnetii Shedding in Three Naturally Infected Dairy Goat Herds after Vaccination, Focusing on Bulk Tank Milk and Dust Swabs

Bauer

Schoneberg

Herms

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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Q fever outbreaks on three dairy goat farms (A–C) were monitored after the animals had been vaccinated with an inactivated Coxiella burnetii phase I vaccine. The antibody response was measured before vaccination by serum samples with two C. burnetii phase-specific ELISAs to characterize the disease status. Shedding was determined by vaginal swabs during three kidding seasons and monthly bulk tank milk (BTM) samples. Dust swabs from one windowsill of each barn and from the milking parlors were collected monthly to evaluate the indoor exposure. These samples were analyzed by qPCR. The phase-specific serology revealed an acute Q fever infection in herd A, whereas herds B and C had an ongoing and past infection, respectively. In all three herds, vaginal shedders were present during three kidding seasons. In total, 50%, 69%, and 15% of all collected BTM samples were C. burnetii positive in herds A, B, and C, respectively. Barn dust contained C. burnetii DNA in 71%, 45%, and 50% of examined swabs collected from farms A, B, and C, respectively. The largest number of C. burnetii positive samples was obtained from the milking parlor (A: 91%, B: 72%, C: 73%), indicating a high risk for humans to acquire Q fever during milking activity.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance of Coxiella burnetii Shedding in Three Naturally Infected Dairy Goat Herds after Vaccination, Focusing on Bulk Tank Milk and Dust Swabs

Bauer

Schoneberg

Herms

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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“…Moreover, individual ewes from cohorts CTR and VAC showed a dominance of IgG PhII during the entire study period. The lack of seroconversion from high IgG PhII antibodies to an increase in IgG PhI was previously observed in sheep and cattle (33,55). In cattle, IgG PhII positive animals became seronegative without developing IgG PhI antibodies, but it must be taken into account that the use of different phase-specific ELISA methods hampers a direct comparison (34,55).…”

Section: Serologymentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In general, an increase in IgG PhII antibodies without or with a low IgG PhI response is interpreted as a recently acquired infection ( 30 , 31 ). The presence of IgG PhI alone or in combination with similar or lower IgG PhII antibody levels has been associated with antigen contact in the past ( 32 , 33 ). Recently, the phase-specific serology was used to characterize the humoral immune response in infected C. burnetii sheep flocks after vaccination ( 33 , 34 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of IgG PhI alone or in combination with similar or lower IgG PhII antibody levels has been associated with antigen contact in the past ( 32 , 33 ). Recently, the phase-specific serology was used to characterize the humoral immune response in infected C. burnetii sheep flocks after vaccination ( 33 , 34 ). Due to the long-lasting IgG PhI response induced by the vaccine, booster vaccination for C. burnetii -infected and vaccinated sheep does not appear to be necessary, but further studies are needed to prove this concept ( 33 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Coxiella burnetii vaccination on humoral immune response, vaginal shedding, and lamb mortality in naturally pre-infected sheep

et al. 2022

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IntroductionSheep are considered to be one of the main reservoirs for Coxiella burnetii, a gram-negative bacterium with high zoonotic potential. Infected sheep shed tremendous amounts of the pathogen through birth products which caused human Q fever epidemics in several countries. Information about the impact of an inactivated C. burnetii Phase I vaccine on humoral immune response, vaginal shedding, and lamb mortality in naturally pre-infected sheep is scarce.MethodsTwo identically managed and naturally C. burnetii-infected sheep flocks were examined for two lambing seasons (2019 and 2020). One flock (VAC) received a primary vaccination against Q fever before mating and the second flock served as control (CTR). In each flock, one cohort of 100 ewes was included in follow-up investigations. Serum samples at eight different sampling dates were analyzed by C. burnetii phase-specific ELISAs to differentiate between the IgG Phase I and II responses. Vaginal swabs were collected within three days after parturition and examined by a C. burnetii real-time PCR (IS1111). Lamb losses were recorded to calculate lamb mortality parameters.ResultsAfter primary vaccination, almost all animals from cohort VAC showed a high IgG Phase I response up until the end of the study period. In cohort CTR, the seropositivity rate varied from 35.1% to 66.3%, and the Phase I and Phase II pattern showed an undulating trend with higher IgG Phase II activity during both lambing seasons. The number of vaginal shedders was significantly reduced in cohort VAC compared to cohort CTR during the lambing season in 2019 (p < 0.0167). There was no significant difference of vaginal shedders in 2020. The total lamb losses were low in both cohorts during the two investigated lambing seasons (VAC 2019: 6.8%, 2020: 3.2%; CTR 2019: 1.4%, 2020: 2.7%).DiscussionNeither the C. burnetii vaccine nor the C. burnetii infection seem to have an impact on lamb mortality. Taken together, the inactivated C. burnetii Phase I vaccine induced a strong IgG Phase I antibody response in naturally pre-infected sheep. It might also reduce vaginal shedding in the short term but seems to have little beneficial impact on lamb mortality.

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“…Each phase-specific ELISA separately detects either IgG PhI or IgG PhII antibodies. These ELISAs were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions and have been recently described in detail [44]. The test results were presented quantitatively in relative units (RU) determined by a standard curve.…”

Section: Phase-specific Antibody Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multispecies Q Fever Outbreak in a Mixed Dairy Goat and Cattle Farm Based on a New Bovine-Associated Genotype of Coxiella burnetii

Bauer

Knittler

Herms

et al. 2021

Veterinary Sciences

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A Q fever outbreak on a dairy goat and cattle farm was investigated with regard to the One Health concept. Serum samples and vaginal swabs from goats with different reproductive statuses were collected. Cows, cats, and a dog were investigated with the same sample matrix. The farmer’s family was examined by serum samples. Ruminant sera were analyzed with two phase-specific enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISAs). Dominant immunoglobulin G (IgG) phase II levels reflected current infections in goats. The cows had high IgG phase I and II levels indicating ongoing infections. Feline, canine, and human sera tested positive by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Animal vaginal swabs were analyzed by qPCR to detect C. burnetii, and almost all tested positive. A new cattle-associated C. burnetii genotype C16 was identified by the Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA/VNTR) from ruminant samples. Additionally, a possible influence of 17ß-estradiol on C. burnetii antibody response was evaluated in goat sera. Goats in early/mid-pregnancy had significantly lower levels of phase-specific IgGs and 17ß-estradiol than goats in late pregnancy. We conclude that the cattle herd may have transmitted C. burnetii to the pregnant goat herd, resulting in a Q fever outbreak with one acute human case. The influence of placentation and maternal pregnancy hormones during pregnancy on the immune response is discussed.

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Humoral immune response to Q fever vaccination of three sheep flocks naturally pre-infected with Coxiella burnetii

Cited by 18 publications

References 38 publications

Surveillance of Coxiella burnetii Shedding in Three Naturally Infected Dairy Goat Herds after Vaccination, Focusing on Bulk Tank Milk and Dust Swabs

Surveillance of Coxiella burnetii Shedding in Three Naturally Infected Dairy Goat Herds after Vaccination, Focusing on Bulk Tank Milk and Dust Swabs

Impact of Coxiella burnetii vaccination on humoral immune response, vaginal shedding, and lamb mortality in naturally pre-infected sheep

Multispecies Q Fever Outbreak in a Mixed Dairy Goat and Cattle Farm Based on a New Bovine-Associated Genotype of Coxiella burnetii

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