SEROPREVALENCE AND MOLECULAR DETECTION OF Q FEVER IN CATTLE AND BUFFALO POPULATIONS IN PUNJAB, INDIA
Loading...
Files
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Q fever is an important zoonotic disease of veterinary and public health importance. As far as we are aware, no systematic studies on the prevalence of the disease in cattle and buffalo populations have been carried out in Punjab state of India. For this crosssectional study, we selected 22 villages that represented all the districts of Punjab. We visited 179 households and overall, 610 bovines (378 cattle and 232 buffaloes) were surveyed. Furthermore, blood (610), milk (361) and genital swab samples (610) along with detailed information related to herd and individual animals were collected. The serum samples were screened for Coxiella burnetii specific antibodies using ELISA. Milk and genital swab samples were subjected to Trans-PCR assay. Serological investigation revealed the apparent seroprevalence and true seroprevalence of 5.41% (95% CI: 3.88, 7.5) and 4.92% (95% CI: 3.39, 7.03) respectively at individual animal level and 16.20% (95% CI: 11.52, 22.3) and 15.77 (95% CI: 11.07, 21.9) at the herd level. Similarly, the apparent and true molecular prevalence for trans-PCR assay in bovines were found to be 2.13% (95% CI: 1.25, 3.61) and 1.89% (95% CI: 0.85, 3.64) respectively at individual animal level and 6.15% (95% CI: 3.47, 10.67) and 6.63% (95% CI: 3.47, 11.98) at the herd level. Seroprevalence and molecular prevalence were higher in the crossbred/exotic cattle than in buffaloes. Univariable analysis revealed that odds of being seropositive for Q fever increased with age and presence of goats in the herd whereas separation of pregnant animals from the rest of the herd during the time of parturition and proper disposal of aborted materials/parturition products had a protective effect on the Q fever seroprevalence. Results indicate the presence of C. burnetii in dairy herds and a need to implement disease-specific control programs.
Description
Keywords
null