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Zoonoses and public health2013; 61(2); 105-112; doi: 10.1111/zph.12051

Potential animal and environmental sources of Q fever infection for humans in Queensland.

Abstract: Q fever is a vaccine-preventable disease; despite this, high annual notification numbers are still recorded in Australia. We have previously shown seroprevalence in Queensland metropolitan regions is approaching that of rural areas. This study investigated the presence of nucleic acid from Coxiella burnetii, the agent responsible for Q fever, in a number of animal and environmental samples collected throughout Queensland, to identify potential sources of human infection. Samples were collected from 129 geographical locations and included urine, faeces and whole blood from 22 different animal species; 45 ticks were removed from two species, canines and possums; 151 soil samples; 72 atmospheric dust samples collected from two locations and 50 dust swabs collected from domestic vacuum cleaners. PCR testing was performed targeting the IS1111 and COM1 genes for the specific detection of C. burnetii DNA. There were 85 detections from 1318 animal samples, giving a detection rate for each sample type ranging from 2.1 to 6.8%. Equine samples produced a detection rate of 11.9%, whilst feline and canine samples showed detection rates of 7.8% and 5.2%, respectively. Native animals had varying detection rates: pooled urines from flying foxes had 7.8%, whilst koalas had 5.1%, and 6.7% of ticks screened were positive. The soil and dust samples showed the presence of C. burnetii DNA ranging from 2.0 to 6.9%, respectively. These data show that specimens from a variety of animal species and the general environment provide a number of potential sources for C. burnetii infections of humans living in Queensland. These previously unrecognized sources may account for the high seroprevalence rates seen in putative low-risk communities, including Q fever patients with no direct animal contact and those subjects living in a low-risk urban environment.
© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2013-05-10 PubMed ID: 23663407DOI: 10.1111/zph.12051Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research discusses potential sources of Q fever infection in Queensland. The organisms causing the infection, Coxiella burnetii, were found in animal species and environmental samples, shedding light on why high infection rates persist despite the availability of vaccines.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aims to identify potential sources of human Q fever infection from various animals and environmental samples collected around Queensland. This is in response to the persistent high rate of Q fever infections despite vaccines being available.
  • The researchers collected samples from 129 geographical locations. They included animal samples (urine, faeces, and whole blood) from 22 animal species, ticks obtained from canines and possums, soil samples, atmospheric dust samples from two locations, and domestic vacuum cleaner dust swabs. These were tested for the presence of C. burnetii DNA through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a molecular biology technique used to amplify specific DNA sequences.

Findings

  • There were 85 detections from 1318 animal samples, indicating various degrees of C. burnetii presence in different species. Horses showed the highest detection rate at 11.9%, followed by cats (7.8%) and dogs (5.2%).
  • Native animals also demonstrated differing detection rates. Pooled urine samples from flying foxes had a 7.8% detection rate, while koalas had a 5.1% detection rate. Furthermore, 6.7% of ticks were tested positive for C. burnetii.
  • Environmental samples comprising soil and atmospheric dust revealed the presence of C. burnetii, demonstrating varying detection rates from 2.0 to 6.9%, respectively.

Implications

  • The research confirms that several animal species and the environment in general could contribute to the spread of Q fever infection in humans in Queensland. These sources were previously unrecognised which could explain the high seroprevalence rates in supposedly low-risk communities, including patients with no direct animal contact and those living in urban areas.

Cite This Article

APA
Tozer SJ, Lambert SB, Strong CL, Field HE, Sloots TP, Nissen MD. (2013). Potential animal and environmental sources of Q fever infection for humans in Queensland. Zoonoses Public Health, 61(2), 105-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12051

Publication

Zoonoses and public health
ISSN: 1863-2378
NlmUniqueID: 101300786
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 2
Pages: 105-112

Researcher Affiliations

Tozer, S J
  • Queensland Paediatric Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Children's Health Queensland Hospitals and Health Service , The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Lambert, S B
    Strong, C L
      Field, H E
        Sloots, T P
          Nissen, M D

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Animals, Wild
            • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
            • Cats
            • Cattle
            • Coxiella burnetii / genetics
            • Coxiella burnetii / immunology
            • Coxiella burnetii / isolation & purification
            • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
            • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
            • Dogs
            • Environmental Microbiology
            • Feces / microbiology
            • Horses
            • Humans
            • Marsupialia
            • Pets
            • Q Fever / epidemiology
            • Q Fever / microbiology
            • Queensland / epidemiology
            • Rural Population
            • Seroepidemiologic Studies
            • Ticks / microbiology
            • Urban Population
            • Zoonoses

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