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Böttcher J, Alex M, Dänicke S, Gethmann J, Mertens-Scholz K, Janowetz B. Susceptibility, Immunity, and Persistent Infection Drive Endemic Cycles of Coxiellosis on Dairy Farms. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1056. [PMID: 38612295 PMCID: PMC11011148 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Coxiella (C.) burnetii, a zoonotic bacterium, is prevalent in dairy farms. Some cows develop a persistent infection and shed C. burnetii into milk and occasionally by amniotic fluid at calving. Serological diagnosis of Q fever in humans is performed by phase (Ph)-specific antibody tests; PhII antibodies usually indicate an acute infection, while the development of a chronic infection is characterised by elevated PhI antibody titres. Phase-specific tests have now been established for diagnosis of coxiellosis in cattle. Additionally, an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) recall assay has been implemented to assess cellular immunity to C. burnetii in cattle. Milk samples from all lactating cows (n = 2718) of 49 Bavarian dairy farms were collected through a convenience sample and analysed for phase-specific antibodies. Antibody profiles were evaluated by age. Based on the seropositivity of first-lactation cows, three distinct herd profiles were observed: an 'acute' state of herd infection was characterised by a PhI-/PhII+ pattern. The detection of PhI antibodies (PhI+/PhII+) characterised the 'chronic' state, and seronegative results defined the 'silent' state of herd infection. If antibodies had not been detected in multiparous cows, the herd was considered as probably free of coxiellosis. The analysed cattle herds were noted to have an 'acute' (n = 12, 24.5%), 'chronic' (n = 18, 36.8%), or 'silent' state of herd infection (n = 16, 32.6%). Only three farms (6.1%) were classified as 'free' of C. burnetii. The detection of these herd states over a time period of 4 years in one farm indicated that the described states occur in a cyclical manner. Frequently, a wave-like profile was seen, i.e., a circumscribed seronegative age group was flanked by seropositive age groups. In seronegative animals, IFN-γ reactivity was demonstrated. Seroconversion after vaccination was observed by day 7 post-vaccination in chronically infected herds, whereas in the case of silent infection, it started by day 14. These data indicated a pre-existing immunity in seronegative animals in chronically infected herds. Additionally, IFN-γ reactivity was detected in seronegative calves (>3 months) and heifers from chronically infected farms compared to a negative farm. An infection prior to 3 months of age resulted in cellular immunity in the absence of detectable antibodies. An infection around calving would explain this. The aforementioned circumscribed seronegative age groups are, therefore, explained by an infection early in life during active shedding at calving. Based on these results, an endemic cycle of coxiellosis is proposed: Susceptible young heifers get infected by persistently infected cows. Subsequently, shedding of C. burnetii at calving results in infection and then in cellular immunity in offspring. When these calves enter the cow herd two years later, a maximum of herd immunity is achieved, shedding ceases, and new susceptible animals are raised. In an acutely infected dairy farm, the PhI+/PhII+ serological pattern prevailed in second-lactation cows. In this study, stored sera collected since birth were analysed retrospectively. From the earliest seroconversion, the peak of seroconversion took about 33 months. These data suggested a slow spread of infection within herds. The classification of dairy cow herds is a promising basis for further analysis of the clinical impact of coxiellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Böttcher
- Bavarian Animal Health Service, Senator-Gerauer-Straße 23, D-85586 Poing, Germany; (M.A.); (B.J.)
| | - Michaela Alex
- Bavarian Animal Health Service, Senator-Gerauer-Straße 23, D-85586 Poing, Germany; (M.A.); (B.J.)
| | - Sven Dänicke
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Bundesallee 37, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany;
| | - Jörn Gethmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Naumburger Straße 96a, D-07743 Jena, Germany;
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control and Center for Sepsis Care and Control (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Britta Janowetz
- Bavarian Animal Health Service, Senator-Gerauer-Straße 23, D-85586 Poing, Germany; (M.A.); (B.J.)
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Tomaiuolo S, Jansen W, Soares Martins S, Devriendt B, Cox E, Mori M. QuilA® adjuvanted Coxevac® sustains Th1-CD8 +-type immunity and increases protection in Coxiella burnetii-challenged goats. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:17. [PMID: 36788233 PMCID: PMC9929268 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00607-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxevac® is the EMA-approved veterinary vaccine for the protection of cattle and goats against Q fever, a zoonotic bacterial disease due to Coxiella burnetii. Since Coxevac® reduces bacterial shedding and clinical symptoms but does not prevent infection, novel, ready-to-use vaccine formulations are needed to increase its immunogenicity. Here, a goat vaccination-challenge model was used to evaluate the impact of the commercially available saponin-based QuilA® adjuvant on Coxevac® immunity. Upon challenge, the QuilA®-Coxevac® group showed a stronger immune response reflected in a higher magnitude of total IgG and an increase in circulating and splenic CD8+ T-cells compared to the Coxevac® and challenged-control groups. The QuilA®-Coxevac® group was characterized by a targeted Th1-type response (IFNγ, IP10) associated with increased transcripts of CD8+ and NK cells in spleens and γδ T cells in bronchial lymph nodes. Coxevac® vaccinated animals presented an intermediate expression of Th1-related genes, while the challenged-control group showed an immune response characterized by pro-inflammatory (IL1β, TNFα, IL12), Th2 (IL4 and IL13), Th17 (IL17A) and other immunoregulatory cytokines (IL6, IL10). An intriguing role was observed for γδ T cells, which were of TBX21- and SOX4-types in the QuilA®-Coxevac® and challenged control group, respectively. Overall, the addition of QuilA® resulted in a sustained Th1-type activation associated with an increased vaccine-induced bacterial clearance of 33.3% as compared to Coxevac® only. QuilA® could be proposed as a readily-applied veterinary solution to improve Coxevac® efficacy against C. burnetii infection in field settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tomaiuolo
- grid.508031.fBacterial Zoonoses Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium ,National Reference Centre for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Wiebke Jansen
- grid.508031.fBacterial Zoonoses Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium ,National Reference Centre for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Susana Soares Martins
- grid.508031.fBacterial Zoonoses Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Devriendt
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Eric Cox
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Marcella Mori
- Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium. .,National Reference Centre for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium.
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Weehuizen JM, van Spronsen R, Hoepelman AIM, Bleeker-Rovers CP, Oosterheert JJ, Wever PC. No Influence of Previous Coxiella burnetii Infection on ICU Admission and Mortality in Emergency Department Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2. J Clin Med 2022; 11:526. [PMID: 35159977 PMCID: PMC8836776 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND the geographical similarities of the Dutch 2007-2010 Q fever outbreak and the start of the 2020 coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak in the Netherlands raised questions and provided a unique opportunity to study an association between Coxiella burnetii infection and the outcome following SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study in two Dutch hospitals. We assessed evidence of previous C. burnetii infection in COVID-19 patients diagnosed at the ED during the first COVID-19 wave and compared a combined outcome of in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission using adjusted odds ratios (OR). RESULTS In total, 629 patients were included with a mean age of 68.0 years. Evidence of previous C. burnetii infection was found in 117 patients (18.6%). The combined primary outcome occurred in 40.2% and 40.4% of patients with and without evidence of previous C. burnetii infection respectively (adjusted OR of 0.926 (95% CI 0.605-1.416)). The adjusted OR of the secondary outcomes in-hospital mortality, ICU-admission and regular ward admission did not show an association either. CONCLUSION no influence of previous C. burnetii infection on the risk of ICU admission and/or mortality for patients with COVID-19 presenting at the ED was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper M. Weehuizen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (R.v.S.); (A.I.M.H.); (J.J.O.)
| | - Rik van Spronsen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (R.v.S.); (A.I.M.H.); (J.J.O.)
| | - Andy I. M. Hoepelman
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (R.v.S.); (A.I.M.H.); (J.J.O.)
| | - Chantal P. Bleeker-Rovers
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Radboud Expertise Center for Q Fever, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jan Jelrik Oosterheert
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (R.v.S.); (A.I.M.H.); (J.J.O.)
| | - Peter C. Wever
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 5223 GZ ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands;
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