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

Ramo, María de los Angeles (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Benito, Alfredo A. ; Quílez, Joaquín (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Monteagudo, Luis V. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Baselga, Cristina ; Tejedor, María Teresa (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular bacterium causing human Q fever and reproductive disorders in domestic ruminants. We analyzed the occurrence of C. burnetii and co-infections with six other major pathogens causing abortion in sheep (1242 cases) and goat (371 cases) flocks from Spain and Portugal. After real-time PCR detection, co-infections were established by principal component and cluster analysis that grouped cases based on the joint presence/absence of several microorganisms. C. burnetii and Chlamydia abortus were the most common abortifacient agents with approximately 75% of cases from both hosts testing positive, followed by Toxoplasma gondii, Campylobacter sp., Salmonella enterica, border disease virus and Neospora caninum. C. burnetii was significantly more common than C. abortus in goat abortions (p < 0.001). Co-infections with at least two pathogens were found in more than 66% cases of ovine abortions and 36% cases of caprine abortions testing positive for C. burnetii, mostly including mixed infections with only C. abortus. These findings indicate that both pathogens are the most significant ones to be readily prevented by vaccination in this geographical area. Biosecurity and biocontainment measures are also steadfastly recommended to prevent both the economic losses and public health risks associated with most of these abortifacient agents.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ani12243454

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Animals 12, 24 (2022), 3454 [15 pp.]
ISSN: 2076-2615

Factor impacto JCR: 3.0 (2022)

Categ. JCR: VETERINARY SCIENCES rank: 13 / 144 = 0.09 (2022) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE rank: 12 / 62 = 0.194 (2022) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 4.2 - Veterinary (Q1) - Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.684 - Veterinary (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Animal Science and Zoology (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Genética (Dpto. Anatom.,Embri.Genét.Ani.)
Área (Departamento): Área Sanidad Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)
Área (Departamento): Área Medicina y Cirugía Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)