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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Microbiol / Seroprevalence of horses to Coxiella burnetii in an Q fever ...
Veterinary microbiology2017; 215; 49-56; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.11.012

Seroprevalence of horses to Coxiella burnetii in an Q fever endemic area.

Abstract: Coxiella burnetii can infect many animal species, but its circulation dynamics in and through horses is still unclear. This study evaluated horse exposure in an area known to be endemic for ruminants and humans. We assessed antibody prevalence in horse serum by ELISA, and screened by qPCR horse blood, ticks found on horses and dust from stables. Horse seroprevalence was 4% (n = 335, 37 stables) in 2015 and 12% (n = 294, 39 stables) in 2016. Of 199 horses sampled both years, 13 seroconverted, eight remained seropositive, and one seroreverted. Seropositive horses were located close to reported human cases, yet none displayed Q fever-compatible syndromes. Coxiella DNA was detected in almost 40% of collected ticks (n = 59/148 in 2015; n = 103/305 in 2016), occasionally in dust (n = 3/46 in 2015; n = 1/14 in 2016) but never in horse blood. Further studies should be implemented to evaluate if horses may be relevant indicators of zoonotic risk in urban and suburban endemic areas.
Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Publication Date: 2017-11-13 PubMed ID: 29426406DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.11.012Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study investigates the exposure of horses to Coxiella burnetii, the bacteria causing Q fever, in an area where the infection is commonly found in humans and other animals. The results showed that a percentage of horses have been exposed to the bacteria, with its DNA detected in ticks found on the horses and in dust from stables, but not in the horse’s blood.

Objective of the Study

  • The main aim of the study was to understand the role of horses in the circulation dynamics of Coxiella burnetii in an area known for Q fever occurrence.
  • The researchers evaluated the prevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii in horse serum, and also screened for the bacteria’s DNA in horse blood, ticks found on horses, and dust from horse stables.

Methodology and Findings

  • Horse serum was analyzed using an ELISA test, a common analytical biochemistry assay used to detect the presence of specific antibodies.
  • In 2015, the seroprevalence – the level of pathogen-specific antibodies – in horses was 4% out of 335 samples from 37 stables.
  • In 2016, the seroprevalence increased to 12% from 294 samples across 39 stables.
  • Of the 199 horses sampled across both years, 13 developed new antibodies against the bacteria, eight maintained their seropositive status, and one had a decrease in antibody levels.

Co-Infections and Clinical Presentation

  • Despite the seropositive horses being located near reported human Q fever cases, none of the horses displayed symptoms of the disease.
  • About 40% of the ticks collected from horses were found to carry Coxiella burnetii DNA.
  • The bacteria’s DNA was occasionally found in the dust from stables but was never detected in horse blood.

Implication of the Study

  • These findings suggest that horses in Q fever endemic areas might be exposed to Coxiella burnetii primarily via ticks and possibly from dust in their stables.
  • The lack of disease symptoms in seropositive horses and absence of Coxiella burnetii DNA in horse blood indicate horses may not develop the disease or be a direct bloodborne source of infection for humans.
  • However, horses might act as indirect indicators of presence of Coxiella burnetii in an environment, especially in urban and suburban settings. Nonetheless, further research is needed to conclusively ascertain the role of horses in the transmission dynamics of Q fever.

Cite This Article

APA
Desjardins I, Joulié A, Pradier S, Lecollinet S, Beck C, Vial L, Dufour P, Gasqui P, Legrand L, Edouard S, Sidi-Boumedine K, Rousset E, Jourdain E, Leblond A. (2017). Seroprevalence of horses to Coxiella burnetii in an Q fever endemic area. Vet Microbiol, 215, 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.11.012

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 215
Pages: 49-56
PII: S0378-1135(17)30698-3

Researcher Affiliations

Desjardins, Isabelle
  • University of Lyon, VetAgroSup, Marcy L'Etoile, France.
Joulié, Aurélien
  • University of Lyon, VetAgroSup, Marcy L'Etoile, France; EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France; ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), Laboratory of Sophia Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
Pradier, Sophie
  • IHAP, University of Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, Toulouse, France.
Lecollinet, Sylvie
  • ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, EURL on Equine Diseases, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Beck, Cécile
  • ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, EURL on Equine Diseases, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Vial, Laurence
  • CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
Dufour, Philippe
  • ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), Laboratory of Sophia Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
Gasqui, Patrick
  • EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France.
Legrand, Loïc
  • LABÉO Frank Duncombe Laboratory, EA7450 BIOTARGEN, Université de Caen Normandie IFR 146 ICORE, 14053 Caen cedex 4, France.
Edouard, Sophie
  • Aix-Marseille University, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm U1095, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, URMITE, IHU Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France.
Sidi-Boumedine, Karim
  • ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), Laboratory of Sophia Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
Rousset, Elodie
  • ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), Laboratory of Sophia Antipolis, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France.
Jourdain, Elsa
  • EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France.
Leblond, Agnès
  • University of Lyon, VetAgroSup, Marcy L'Etoile, France; EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France. Electronic address: isabelle.desjardins@vetagro-sup.fr.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Coxiella burnetii / genetics
  • Coxiella burnetii / physiology
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Q Fever / blood
  • Q Fever / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / veterinary
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Ticks / microbiology

Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
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