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. 2022 Aug 10;11(8):901.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11080901.

Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy

Gianmarco Ferrara  1 , Barbara Colitti  2 , Ugo Pagnini  1 , Danila D'Angelo  1 , Giuseppe Iovane  1 , Sergio Rosati  2 , Serena Montagnaro  1
Affiliations

Serological Evidence of Q Fever among Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Populations in the Campania Region, Italy

Gianmarco Ferrara et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Due to its economic impact on livestock and its zoonotic effect, Q fever is a public and animal health problem. Information on this infection in Italy is presently supported by reports of reproductive problems in livestock farms and is, therefore, insufficient to properly understand the impact of the disease. This study aimed to describe for the first time the seroprevalence of Q fever in dairy cows and water buffalos in the Campania region (Southern Italy). A total of 424 dairy cattle and 214 water buffalo were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 11.7% confirmed the wide distribution of C. burnetii in this region. Several factors were positively associated with higher seroprevalence, such as species (higher in cattle than in water buffalo), age, and coexistence with other ruminant species. The final model of logistic regression included only age (older) and species (cattle), which were positively associated with the presence of Q fever antibodies. Our findings support the widespread presence of Coxiella burnettii in Campania and show a seroprevalence similar to that observed in previous studies in other Italian regions and European countries. Since human cases are typically linked to contact with infected ruminants, there is a need to improve surveillance for this infection.

Keywords: Coxiellosis; Q fever; serosurvey.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A map of the Campania Region (Italy) showing the spatial distribution of seropositive dairy bovines for Coxiella burnetii.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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