Sero-Epidemiological Study of Selected Zoonotic and Abortifacient Pathogens in Cattle at a Wildlife-Livestock Interface in South Africa

Abstract

A cross sectional sero-epidemiological study was conducted on cattle in a communal farming area adjacent to Kruger National Park at a wildlife-livestock interface in South Africa. A total of 184 cattle were screened for exposure to 5 abortifacient or zoonotic pathogens, namely Coxiella burnetii, Toxoplasma gondii, Chlamydophila abortus, Neospora caninum, and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, the virus neutralization test was used to confirm the presence of antibodies to RVFV. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii, T. gondii, C. abortus, N. caninum, and RVFV antibodies was 38.0%, 32.6%, 20.7%, 1.6%, and 0.5%, respectively, and varied between locations (p < 0.001). Seroprevalence of C. burnetii and T. gondii was highly clustered by location (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.57), and that of C. abortus moderately so (ICC = 0.11). Seroprevalence was not associated with sex or age for any pathogen, except for C. abortus, for which seroprevalence was positively associated with age (p = 0.01). The predominant mixed infections were C. burnetii and T. gondii (15.2%) and C. burnetii, T. gondii, and C. abortus (13.0%). The serological detection of the five abortifacient pathogens in cattle indicates the potential for economic losses to livestock farmers, health impacts to domestic animals, transmission across the livestock-wildlife interface, and the risk of zoonotic transmission. This is the first documentation of T. gondii infection in cattle in South Africa, while exposure to C. burnetii, C. abortus, and N. caninum infections is being reported for the first time in cattle in a wildlife-livestock interface in the country.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp., and Coxiella burnetii-associated antibodies in dairy cattle with reproductive disorders

“…Further, the predominantly mixed infections observed (Figure -1) were leptospirosis and Q fever (34.5%) followed by all three infections (4.87%); toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis (3.54%); and toxoplasmosis and Q fever (2.21%), which are corroborated with the reported data by various researchers in different studies. Adesiyun et al [27] observed the seroprevalence of 38% and 33% for C. burnetii and T. gondii, respectively, while studying the epidemiology of the cattle for exposure to different abortifacient zoonotic pathogens. In contrast, Sekovanić et al [28] reported a prevalence of 5% and 6% for Q fever and leptospirosis, respectively, without a single positive of brucellosis in cattle during 5 years of study in Croatia.…”

“…Adesiyun et al . [ 27 ] observed the seroprevalence of 38% and 33% for C. burnetii and T. gondii , respectively, while studying the epidemiology of the cattle for exposure to different abortifacient zoonotic pathogens. In contrast, Sekovanić et al .…”

Detection of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in sheep and cattle on a veterinary campus in St. Kitts: Implications for one health in the Caribbean region

“…For example, in South Africa, a seroprevalence of 61% was found in people working with cattle [ 35 ]. The same cattle population had a seroprevalence of 38% [ 36 ]. Risk to the general population should also be taken into account as the farming animals roam on roads and private properties.…”

Identification of Bacillus Anthracis, Brucella Spp., and Coxiella Burnetii DNA Signatures From Bushmeat

“…One study on humans, livestock and wildlife found that the incidence of Q fever in cattle and wildlife was associated with arthropod vectors [22]. Another cross sectional sero-epidemiological study conducted in South Africa concluded higher risk of zoonotic transmission and economic loss was associated with the livestock-wildlife interface [23] and this has been supported by a number of studies across Africa [21,24,25].…”