Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Coxiella burnetii in Cattle, Goats, and Horses in the Republic of Korea.
Abstract: is an obligate intracellular zoonotic bacterium with a global distribution. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of in different animals and to assess the potential role of these species as reservoirs of infection and transmission to humans. A total of 592 blood samples (105 beef cattle, 61 dairy cattle, 110 Korean native goats, 83 Boer goats, and 233 horses) were collected in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The DNA was detected from blood samples using the transposon-like repetitive region () by PCR method. The results showed that 22.7% of the Korean-native goats, 16.4% of the dairy cattle, 15.2% of the beef cattle, 6.0% of the Boer goats, and 5.2% of the horses were positive for . Significant differences were found between the animal species. The univariable binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of contracting C. was significantly high by 5.4-fold in Korean-native goats (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.60%-11.27%, = 0.000), 3.6-fold in dairy cattle (95% CI: 1.48%-8.82%, = 0.005), and 3.3-fold in beef cattle (95% CI: 1.51%-7.28%, = 0.003) compared with horses. A phylogenetic tree based on the gene revealed that our sequences had 92.2%-99.9% similarity and were clustered with those detected in humans, cattle, goats, dogs, rodents, and ticks. circulating in the ROK exhibits genetic variation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify DNA in a horse in the ROK. These results suggest that cattle, goats, and horses can be potential reservoirs for and play an important role in the transmission of infection. Further studies should assess the pathogenicity of circulating in the ROK.
Publication Date: 2021-04-12 PubMed ID: 33844947DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2764Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii, a zoonotic bacterium with a global distribution, in various animals including cattle, goats, and horses in the Republic of Korea. The study indicates significant differences in prevalence between species, and suggests these animals could be important reservoirs for the infection and its transmission to humans.
Study Aim and Methodology
- The primary aim of this research was to understand the prevalence and molecular characterization of Coxiella burnetii – an obligate intracellular zoonotic bacterium – in various animals including beef and dairy cattle, Korean native goats, Boer goats, and horses.
- A total of 592 blood samples were collected and the presence of Coxiella burnetii was detected using the transposon-like repetitive region (TRR) by PCR method.
Results Analysis
- The study found that Coxiella burnetii was present in a significant percentage of all types of examined animals. Korean-native goats had the highest prevalence (22.7%), followed by dairy cattle (16.4%), beef cattle (15.2%), Boer goats (6.0%), and horses (5.2%).
- Univariable binary logistic regression analysis revealed the risk of contracting Coxiella burnetii was significantly higher in Korean-native goats (increased by 5.4-fold), dairy cattle (increased by 3.6-fold) and beef cattle (increased by 3.3-fold) compared to horses.
Phylogenetic Analysis
- A phylogenetic tree based on the TRR gene showed our sequences had 92.2%-99.9% similarity and were clustered with those detected in humans, cattle, goats, dogs, rodents, and ticks.
- The study concluded that Coxiella burnetii circulating in the Republic of Korea exhibits genetic variation.
Conclusions and Further Steps
- This study was the first to identify Coxiella burnetii DNA in a horse in the Republic of Korea.
- The results suggest that cattle, goats, and horses can be potential reservoirs for Coxiella burnetii and may play an important role in transmission of the infection.
- The researchers call for additional studies to evaluate the pathogenicity of Coxiella burnetii circulating in the Republic of Korea.
Cite This Article
APA
Cho HC, Hwang S, Kim EM, Park YJ, Shin SU, Jang DH, Chae JS, Choi KS.
(2021).
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Coxiella burnetii in Cattle, Goats, and Horses in the Republic of Korea.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 21(7), 502-508.
https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2020.2764 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology and College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology and College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology and College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Horse/Companion and Wild Animals, College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology and College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology and College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology and College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Horse/Companion and Wild Animals, College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
- Coxiella burnetii / genetics
- Dog Diseases
- Dogs
- Goat Diseases / epidemiology
- Goats
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Phylogeny
- Prevalence
- Q Fever / epidemiology
- Q Fever / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Cabrera R, Mendoza W, López-Mosquera L, Cano MA, Ortiz N, Campo V, Keynan Y, López L, Rueda ZV, Gutiérrez LA. Tick-Borne-Agents Detection in Patients with Acute Febrile Syndrome and Ticks from Magdalena Medio, Colombia. Pathogens 2022 Sep 24;11(10).
- Lu M, Tian J, Zhao H, Jiang H, Qin X, Wang W, Li K. Molecular Survey of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Ticks, Sheep Keds, and Domestic Animals from Ngawa, Southwest China. Pathogens 2022 May 22;11(5).
- Yoo JR, Kim MS, Heo ST, Oh HJ, Oh JH, Ko SY, Kang JH, Lee SK, Jeong WS, Seong GM, Lee HJ, Kang CH, Moon JH, Lee KH, Song SW. Seroreactivity to Coxiella burnetii in an Agricultural Population and Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Ticks of a Non-Endemic Region for Q Fever in South Korea. Pathogens 2021 Oct 17;10(10).
- Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Garcia MM, Ibasco CJ, Garvida A, Ji S, Zafar I, Hasegawa Y, Liu M, Ybañez RH, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Ybañez A, Claveria F, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines. Pathogens 2021 Oct 13;10(10).
- Narouei M, Rahimi H, Kafshdouzan K. First molecular detection of Francisella tularensis and investigation of Coxiella burnetii in horse sera in Iran. Vet Anim Sci 2025 Dec;30:100529.
- Lee YJ, Chae SJ, Kim B, Shin HS, Kwak SM, Jeong H, Lee S, Kang YM, Kwak D, Seo MG. First Molecular Typing of Tick-Derived Coxiella burnetii From Wildlife in South Korea: Surveillance and Genetic Characterization. Transbound Emerg Dis 2025;2025:2533438.
- Lee YJ, Kim B, Kang YM, Kwak D, Seo MG. Molecular Epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii in Boer Goats and Their Farm Environment in South Korea with a One Health Approach. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 21;15(10).
- Mazzotta E, Natale A, Bellinati L, Ceglie L, Lucchese L, Kevenk TO, Menandro ML, Giacometti F, Alberghini L. Raw Equid Milk: A Potential Risk for Q Fever?. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 19;15(10).
- Um J, Kim J, Cho SJ, Park MH, Cho HC, Park YJ, Choi KS. Identification of zoonotic pathogens in zoo animals in the Republic of Korea. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2025 Aug;27:101067.
- Choi KS, Hwang S, Kim MC, Cho HC, Park YJ, Ji MJ, Han SW, Chae JS. Molecular surveillance of zoonotic pathogens from wild rodents in the Republic of Korea. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024 Jul;18(7):e0012306.
- Kodori M, Amani J, Meshkat Z, Ahmadi A. Coxiella burnetii Pathogenesis: Emphasizing the Role of the Autophagic Pathway. Arch Razi Inst 2023 Jun;78(3):785-796.
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