Prevalence of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in German sheep flocks and evaluation of a novel approach to detect an infection via preputial swabs at herd-level – ERRATUM

Wolf, Annika; Prüfer, T.; Schoneberg, Clara; Campe, Amely; Runge, Martin; Ganter, Martin; Bauer, B.

doi:10.1017/s0950268820000801

Cited by 3 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…In Germany, infected (small) ruminants kept as livestock are the main source of pathogen transmission to humans (1,11,12). (Small) ruminants are infected by inhalation of C. burnetii, while other transmission routes (e.g., sexual, intrauterine, oral, infestation with ticks) are still being studied (7,(13)(14)(15)(16). Therefore, pathogen transmission may take place through reservoir animals, which may be part of a flock or external (e.g., wild mammals but also dogs, cats other ruminant species, or ticks).…”

Section: Affected Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in Germany most small-scale epidemics have been caused by nondairy sheep ( 25 ). Because sheep and goats are often kept together (especially in southern Germany) and because the number of goats is increasing across the country ( 14 , 25 ), this MOSS has to focus on both species. The German Federal Statistical Office reported 19,556 farms with 1,834,275 sheep and 9,808 farms with 138,810 goats in 2016.…”

Section: Concept Of the Mossmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Possible differences regarding the transmission risk to humans between sex and age groups have to be considered when defining the target population. Both female and male small ruminants can be infected by C. burnetii and shed the pathogen via different pathways ( 13 , 14 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 54 ). However, the highest pathogen concentrations are shed in amniotic fluid, placenta, and lochia during physiological birth or abortion and in the milk of small ruminants ( 18 , 21 , 22 , 54 ).…”

Section: Concept Of the Mossmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the high concentration and prolonged time of C. burnetii shedding, a single C. burnetii -infected individual may be a sufficient risk for human infections ( 3 , 29 ). Therefore, a single animal testing positive is sufficient to designate the flock as positive for C. burnetii shedding ( 14 , 44 , 55 ). Conclusively, the unit of interest is the flock status of pathogen shedding defined by at least one individual-sample testing positive.…”

Section: Concept Of the Mossmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In comparison, in a non-representative German study, 7.8% of cattle ( n = 21,191), 1.3% of sheep ( n = 1,346), and 2.5% of goats ( n = 278) tested positive for C. burnetii by PCR ( 30 ). Wolf et al ( 14 ) detected that 13.9% of tested sheep and goat flocks ( n = 71) were positive by PCR. Other studies mainly aimed at sheep farming within German federal states.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Concept of an Active Surveillance System for Q Fever in German Small Ruminants—Conflicts Between Best Practices and Feasibility

et al. 2021

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Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Inhalation of contaminated dust particles or aerosols originating from animals (esp. small ruminants) is the main source of human infection. Hence, an active early warning system for Q fever in German small ruminant livestock was conceptualized to prevent human infections. First, we describe the best practice for establishing this system before evaluating its feasibility, as the combination of both evokes conflicts. Vaginal swabs from all husbandry systems with a focus on reproductive females should pooled and investigated by PCR to detect C. burnetii-shedding animals. Multistage risk-based sampling shall be carried out at the flock level and within-flock level. At the flock level, all flocks that are at risk to transmit the pathogen to the public must be sampled. At the within-flock level, all primi- and multiparous females after lambing must be tested in order to increase the probability of identifying a positive herd. Sampling should be performed during the main lambing period and before migration in residential areas. Furthermore, individual animals should be tested before migration or exhibition to ensure a negative status. If a flock tests positive in at least one individual sample, then flock-specific preventive measures should be implemented. This approach implies huge financial costs (sample testing, action/control measures). Hence, taking the step to develop more feasible and affordable preventive measures, e.g., vaccinating small ruminant flocks, should replace testing wherever justifiable.

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Section: Affected Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Concept Of the Mossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Concept Of the Mossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Concept Of the Mossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Concept of an Active Surveillance System for Q Fever in German Small Ruminants—Conflicts Between Best Practices and Feasibility

et al. 2021

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Belgian bulk tank milk surveillance program reveals the impact of a continuous vaccination protocol for small ruminants against Coxiella burnetii

Jansen

Cargnel

Boarbi

et al. 2021

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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Endemic Q fever in small ruminants remains an ongoing challenge for veterinary and human public health agencies. Though surveillance programs are implemented in Belgium, infection patterns and vaccination profiles, driving variables, as well as geographical clustering were not presented until now. Based on data from a decade of bulk tank milk analysis between 2009 and 2019, shedding in dairy goat herds declined from 16% (8/50) to 6% (10/162), whereas seroprevalence remained between 32% and 40%. Merely up to two shedding dairy sheep flocks were detected until 2019; seroprevalence peaked in 2017 (43%, 12/28) and declined thereafter. The number of animals in the holding influenced significantly (p = .048) the likelihood of shedding, whereas other established risk factors such as uncovered manure, high abortion rates and diversified farm structure could not be confirmed to significantly affect infection on Belgian herd level. Intermittent, incomplete and unsynchronized vaccinated herds shed Coxiella burnetii significantly more often and longer (p < .001) than continuously, complete and synchronized vaccinated herds. Spatial analyses revealed restricted but matching, homogenous clusters with ≤35 km diameter, concentrated in the coastal region close to the border to the Netherlands from 2009 to 2012, and broadened, heterogeneous clusters with ≥45 km diameter between 2014 and 2016 spreading south‐west. Though the majority of human cases was notified in this region, the animal clusters could not be allied with Q fever cases. The impact of environmental factors as well as the role of wildlife, rodents and ticks on the transmission between flocks and to humans remains to be elucidated to harness additional epidemiological drivers of Q fever in Belgium. In conclusion, attempts to reduce the burden of Q fever in Belgium should particularly focus on the timely, complete and synchronized vaccination of flocks, including the breeding sire, and particularity in high‐risk areas.

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Co-exposure to Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus in sheep in southern Germany

et al. 2023

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The intracellular bacteria Anaplasma spp. and Coxiella burnetii and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are tick-transmitted pathogens circulating in the southern German sheep population. Knowledge of interaction among Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV in sheep is lacking, but together they might promote and reinforce disease progression. The current study aimed to identify co-exposure of sheep to Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV. For this purpose, 1,406 serum samples from 36 sheep flocks located in both southern German federal states, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria, were analysed by ELISAs to determine the antibody levels of the three pathogens. Inconclusive and positive results from the TBEV ELISA were additionally confirmed by a serum neutralisation assay. The proportion of sheep with antibodies against Anaplasma spp. (47.2%), C. burnetii (3.7%) and TBEV (4.7%) differed significantly. Significantly more flocks with Anaplasma spp. seropositive sheep (91.7%) were detected than flocks with antibodies against TBEV (58.3%) and C. burnetii (41.7%), but there was no significant difference between the number of flocks which contained TBEV and C. burnetii seropositive sheep. Seropositivity against at least two pathogens was detected in 4.7% of sheep from 20 flocks. Most co-exposed sheep had antibodies against Anaplasma spp./TBEV (n = 36), followed by Anaplasma spp./C. burnetii (n = 27) and Anaplasma spp./C. burnetii/TBEV (n = 2). Only one sheep showed an immune response against C. burnetii and TBEV. Flocks with sheep being positive against more than one pathogen were widely distributed throughout southern Germany. The descriptive analysis revealed no association between the antibody response of the three pathogens at animal level. Taking the flocks as a cluster variable into account, the exposure to TBEV reduced the probability of identifying C. burnetii antibodies in sheep significantly (odds ratio 0.46; 95% confidence interval 0.24–0.85), but the reason for this is unknown. The presence of Anaplasma spp. antibodies did not influence the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and TBEV. Studies under controlled conditions are necessary to evaluate any possible adverse impact of co-exposure to tick-borne pathogens on sheep health. This can help to clarify rare disease patterns. Research in this field may also support the One Health approach due to the zoonotic potential of Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV.

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Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in German sheep flocks and evaluation of a novel approach to detect an infection via preputial swabs at herd-level – ERRATUM

Abstract: Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in German sheep flocks and evaluation of a novel approach to detect an infection via preputial swabs at herd-level-ERRATUM. Epidemiology and Infection 148,

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Concept of an Active Surveillance System for Q Fever in German Small Ruminants—Conflicts Between Best Practices and Feasibility

Concept of an Active Surveillance System for Q Fever in German Small Ruminants—Conflicts Between Best Practices and Feasibility

Belgian bulk tank milk surveillance program reveals the impact of a continuous vaccination protocol for small ruminants against Coxiella burnetii

Co-exposure to Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus in sheep in southern Germany

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