One Health Approach: An Overview of Q Fever in Livestock, Wildlife and Humans in Asturias (Northwestern Spain)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants, wild ungulates, as well as the current situation of Q fever in humans in a small region in northwestern Spain where a close contact at the wildlife–livestock–human interface exists, and information on C. burnetii infection is scarce. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii was 8.4% in sheep, 18.4% in cattle, and 24.4% in goats. Real-time PCR analysis of environmental samples collected in 25 livestock farms detected Coxiella DNA in dust and/or aerosols collected in 20 of them. Analysis of sera from 327 wild ungulates revealed lower seroprevalence than that found in domestic ruminants, with 8.4% of Iberian red deer, 7.3% chamois, 6.9% fallow deer, 5.5% European wild boar and 3.5% of roe deer harboring antibodies to C. burnetii. Exposure to the pathogen in humans was determined by IFAT analysis of 1312 blood samples collected from patients admitted at healthcare centers with Q fever compatible symptoms, such as fever and/or pneumonia. Results showed that 15.9% of the patients had IFAT titers ≥ 1/128 suggestive of probable acute infection. This study is an example of a One Health approach with medical and veterinary institutions involved in investigating zoonotic diseases.

Sero-Epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Small Ruminants in the Eastern Region of Punjab, Pakistan

“…According to the world animal health information system (WAHIS) of OIE, C. burnetii is prevalent worldwide, with an exception in New Zealand. Ticks may also play a significant role [13,14]. In Pakistan, Q fever was detected in camels in 1955 for the first time.…”

Coxiella burnetii and Co-Infections with Other Major Pathogens Causing Abortion in Small Ruminant Flocks in the Iberian Peninsula

“…In contrast, studies on the occurrence of C. burnetii infection in small ruminants are limited in Spain, and their impact in sheep and goat abortions remains unclear. Seroprevalence studies in semi-extensive grazing systems have shown herd seroprevalence values of up to 74% for sheep and 45% for goats, with individual seroprevalence values of 8.4% in sheep and 24.4–42% in goats [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Likewise, C. burnetii seems to be a widespread pathogen in environmental samples collected in Spanish livestock farms, as documented by the high percentage of dust and/or aerosols samples (36–80%) testing positive by real-time PCR analyses [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Seroprevalence studies in semi-extensive grazing systems have shown herd seroprevalence values of up to 74% for sheep and 45% for goats, with individual seroprevalence values of 8.4% in sheep and 24.4–42% in goats [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Likewise, C. burnetii seems to be a widespread pathogen in environmental samples collected in Spanish livestock farms, as documented by the high percentage of dust and/or aerosols samples (36–80%) testing positive by real-time PCR analyses [ 37 , 38 ]. In this study, the current status of C. burnetii infection and other major pathogens, causing abortion in sheep and goat flocks from Spain and Portugal, was investigated through cases submitted for diagnosis to a veterinary laboratory.…”

Zoonoses and Wildlife: One Health Approach

“…More than 50 different species—including wild and domestic ungulates (e.g., red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, chamois, mouflon, European bison, wild boar, sheep, goat, cattle), wild carnivores (e.g., wolf, Eurasian lynx, Eurasian badger, coypu, beech marten, golden jackal), micromammals (e.g., yellow-necked field mouse, long-tailed field mouse, European water vole, white-toothed shrew, garden dormouse, common vole, house mouse, western Mediterranean mouse, black rat, Eurasian red squirrel), non-human primates (the genera Cebuella, Cercocebus, Cercopithecus, Eulemur, Hylobates, Lemur, Macaca, Mandrillus, Saimiri, and Varecia ), turtles (e.g., Testudo hermanni , T. h. boettgeri , T. graeca , and T. marginata ), bats (the families Pteropodidae, Emballonuridae, Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, and Vespertilionidae), and ticks ( Ixodes ricinus , Dermacentor marginatus , Hyalomma marginatum )—are included. Regarding the zoonotic pathogens represented in this issue, the presence of or exposure to 17 different pathogens—including viruses [ 4 ] (West Nile virus), bacteria [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] ( Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, Helicobacter pylori, H. suis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, Salmonella sp., and Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto), and parasitic protists [ 14 , 15 ] (e.g., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis , Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi , Entamoeba histolytica , Entamoeba dispar , Balantioides coli , Troglodytella spp., Leishmania spp. )—are presented.…”

“…The authors additionally suggest that micromammals may be potential sources to trace back the origin of human Q fever and animal coxiellosis cases in Europe, and might be relevant in the maintenance of wild-type C. burnetii strains that can be a matter of concern for animal and human health authorities. Espí et al [ 8 ] investigated the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants and wild ungulates, as well as the current situation of Q fever in humans, in a small region in northwestern Spain, where close contact at the wildlife–livestock–human interface exists, and information on C. burnetii infection is scarce. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii was 8.4% in sheep, 18.4% in cattle, and 24.4% in goats.…”