Seroprevalence of Q fever in cows in Bejaia area (Algeria)

Abstract

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, a strict intracellular bacterium. Domestic ruminants are the main reservoir of the pathogen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Q fever in cattle in Bejaia area, Northern Algeria. A total of 180 sera from 50 dairy herds was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nineteen sera from 11 herds were positive. The indi­vidual prevalence was thus 10.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.1%−15.0%) and the herd seroprevalence was 22% (10.5%−33.5%). A statistically significant correlation was observed between seropositivity and a history of placental retention (p = 0.025) or metritis (p < 0.001), or repeat breed­ing (p = 0.026) in cows. Q fever therefore circulates in the dairy herds of this region. Other studies are strongly recom­mended to understand better the epidemiology of this disease.