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Ai L, Qi Y, Hu Y, Zhu C, Liu K, Li F, Ye F, Dai H, Wu Y, Kuai Q, Nie D, Shan L, Zhang Y, Wang C, Tan W. The epidemiological and infectious characteristics of novel types of Coxiella burnetii co-infected with Coxiella-like microorganisms from Xuyi County, Jiangsu province, China. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:1041. [PMID: 39333956 PMCID: PMC11430510 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09924-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is the causative agent of Q fever, a type of zoonoses withwidespread distribution. In 2019, a case of Q fever was diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) method in Xuyi County (Jiangsu province, China). The seroprevalence of previous fever patients and the molecular epidemiology of Coxiella in wild hedgehogs and harbouring ticks around the confirmed patient were detected to reveal the genetic characteristics and pathogenicity of the Coxiella strains. Four of the 90 serum samples (4.44%) were positive for specific C. burnetii IgM antibody, suggesting that local humans are at risk of Q fever. The positive rates of C. burnetii in hedgehogs and ticks were 21.9% (7/32) and 70.5% (122/173), respectively. At least 3 strains of Coxiella were found prevalent in the investigated area, including one new genotype of pathogenic C. burnetii (XYHT29) and two non-pathogenic Coxiella-like organisms (XYHT19 and XYHT3). XYHT29 carried by ticks and wild hedgehogs successfully infected mice, imposing a potential threat to local humans. XYHT19, a novel Coxiella-like microorganism, was first discovered in the world to co-infect with C. burnetii in Haemaphysalis flava. The study provided significant epidemic information that could be used for prevention and control strategies against Q fever for local public health departments and medical institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Ai
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Qi
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Hu
- Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changqiang Zhu
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kangle Liu
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Li
- Yancheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yancheng, China
| | - Fuqiang Ye
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Dai
- Eastern Theater General Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiyuan Kuai
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Danyue Nie
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Laiyou Shan
- Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changjun Wang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Weilong Tan
- Nanjing Bioengineer (Gene) Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China.
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Alessiani A, Di Domenico M, Averaimo D, Pompilii C, Rulli M, Cocco A, Lomellini L, Coccaro A, Cantelmi MC, Merola C, Tieri EE, Romeo G, Secondini B, Marfoglia C, Di Teodoro G, Petrini A. Coxiella burnetii: A Brief Summary of the Last Five Years of Its Presence in the Abruzzo and Molise Regions in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2248. [PMID: 39123774 PMCID: PMC11310968 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever. The main reservoirs for this bacterium, which can lead to human infection, in our region are typically cattle, goats, and sheep. In animals, C. burnetii infection is often detected due to reproductive problems. European Member States are required to report confirmed cases annually, but the lack of uniform reporting methods makes the data rather inconsistent. The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise is involved in official controls to identify the causes of abortions, monitor suspected or positive herds, evaluate suspected infections in pets and humans, monitor the spread in wildlife, etc. In this paper, we summarize the presence of C. burnetii over the last five years (2019-2023). Additionally, a detailed overview of C. burnetii infection in wild and domestic animals is provided. Five hundred sixty animals-including cattle; goats; sheep; wild animals, such as deer, boars, wolves, roe deer, owls, and otters; buffalo; dogs; horses; cats; and a donkey-and six human samples were tested by real-time PCR on the transposase gene IS1111 to detect C. burnetii. The MST profile was identified in some of the samples. Outbreaks of C. burnetii occurred in four herds. In one of them, it was possible to follow the outbreak from inception to eradication by evaluating the effect of vaccination on real-time PCR Ct values. A total of 116 animals tested positive for C. burnetii, including 73 goats, 42 sheep, and one bovine. None of the other samples tested positive. The strains for which the ST was performed were identified as ST79, a strain that has been present in the area for more than ten years. The effect of vaccination on the reduction of positive samples and the variation of real-time PCR Ct values was evaluated in strict correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Alessiani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Daniela Averaimo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Cinzia Pompilii
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Marco Rulli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Antonio Cocco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Laura Lomellini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Antonio Coccaro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Chiara Cantelmi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Carmine Merola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Elga Ersilia Tieri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Gianfranco Romeo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Barbara Secondini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Cristina Marfoglia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Giovanni Di Teodoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Antonio Petrini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (D.A.); (C.P.); (M.R.); (A.C.); (L.L.); (A.C.); (M.C.C.); (C.M.); (E.E.T.); (G.R.); (B.S.); (C.M.); (G.D.T.); (A.P.)
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Xiang Y, Zhou J, Yu F, Zhang Y, Li S, Hu Y, Liang W, Liu Q. Characterization of bacterial communities in ticks parasitizing cattle in a touristic location in southwestern China. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s10493-023-00799-y. [PMID: 37285110 PMCID: PMC10293413 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00799-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate tick species around Mount Fanjing and analyze bacterial communities in two species - Rhipicephalus microplus and Haemaphysalis longicornis - parasitizing cattle in Tongren, Guizhou province, Southwest China, using high-throughput sequencing methods. In April 2019, ticks were collected from five sites in Jiangkou County, Yinjiang County, and Songtao County. In total, 296 ticks were collected, comprising two genera and three species: H. longicornis, Haemaphysalis flava, and R. microplus. Rhipicephalus microplus was the most representative species (57.4%) within the collected group, being the dominant species in Tongren City, followed by H. longicornis (39.5%) and H. flava (3.0%). Beta-diversity analysis revealed differences in bacterial community composition among the tick species. The bacterial community structure of R. microplus collected in the three counties was highly similar. Chlorella and Bacillus were highly abundant in H. longicornis. Rickettsia was detected at high relative abundance in R. microplus but in low relative abundance in H. longicornis, suggesting that Rickettsia is more associated with R. microplus than with H. longicornis. More in-depth investigations are needed to determine the pathogenic risk of Rickettsia and its relationship with the host. This is the first survey on tick-borne bacterial communities in this area, which is of great significance for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases locally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Xiang
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Jingzhu Zhou
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China
| | - Fuxun Yu
- Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Shijun Li
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China
| | - Yong Hu
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Wenqin Liang
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China.
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China.
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
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Hemsley CM, Essex-Lopresti A, Chisnall T, Millar M, Neale S, Reichel R, Norville IH, Titball RW. MLVA and com1 genotyping of Coxiella burnetii in farmed ruminants in Great Britain. Vet Microbiol 2023; 277:109629. [PMID: 36535174 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever, has been shown to be endemic in Great Britain, but information on the prevailing genomic lineages or Genomic Groups (GGs) of Coxiella burnetii is limited. The aim of this study was to genotype C. burnetii isolates from infected farmed ruminants by Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) and identify their associated Genomic Group. A total of 51 Coxiella-containing abortion samples from farmed ruminants (sheep, goats, and cattle), which were collected in Great Britain during 2013-2018, were included in the study, 34 of which returned a C. burnetii MLVA genotype. All bovine samples (n = 18), 5/7 of the ovine samples, and 3/9 of the caprine samples belonged to an MLVA cluster which we could link to the MST20 genotype of GG III, whereas 6/9 of the caprine samples and 2/7 of the ovine samples belonged to MLVA clusters which we could link to the MST33 or MST32 genotypes of GG II (7 vs 1 sample(s), respectively). We also noted that the Coxiella-specific com1 gene contained unique mutations that could genomotype isolates, i.e. assign them to a Genomic Group. In conclusion, both goats and sheep in Great Britain (from 2014 onward) were found to carry the same MLVA genotypes (MST33-like; GG II) that were linked to a human Q fever outbreak in the Netherlands. This knowledge in combination with the usage of genotyping/genomotyping methods should prove useful in future surveillance programs and in the management of outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M Hemsley
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | | | | | | | - Sue Neale
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Penrith, UK.
| | | | - Isobel H Norville
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.
| | - Richard W Titball
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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Distribution of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Domestic Animals and Their Ticks in the Countries of the Mediterranean Basin between 2000 and 2021: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061236. [PMID: 35744755 PMCID: PMC9228937 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) include a wide range of bacteria, parasites and viruses that cause a large spectrum of animal, human and zoonotic tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The object of this review was to establish an inventory and an analysis of TBPs found in domestic animals in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin. This geographic area occupies a central position between several continents and is an area of movement for animals, humans and pathogens of interest and their vectors, which is important in terms of animal and human health. In this systematic review, we included a total of 271 publications produced between 2000–2021 concerning TBPs in domestic animals. Among this literature, we found a total of 90 pathogen species (known as TBPs) reported in the 20 countries of the area; these were detected in tick species from domestic animals and were also directly detected in domestic animals. In all, 31 tick species were recorded and 12 domestic animal species, the latter comprising nine livestock and three pet species. More than 50% of the publications were from Western Europe. Island data were extracted and assessed, as islands of the Mediterranean Basin were represented in 16% of the publications and 77.8% of the TBPs reported. Our results show the importance of islands in the monitoring of TBPs, despite the low percentage of publications.
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Fu M, He P, OuYang X, Yu Y, Wen B, Zhou D, Xiong X, Yuan Q, Jiao J. Novel genotypes of Coxiella burnetii circulating in rats in Yunnan Province, China. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:204. [PMID: 35624449 PMCID: PMC9137106 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03310-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coxiella burnetii (Cb) is the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever which is distributed worldwide. Molecular typing of Cb strains is essential to find out the infectious source and prevent Q fever outbreaks, but there has been a lack of typing data for Cb strains in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotypes of Cb strains in wild rats in Yunnan Province, China. RESULTS Eighty-six wild rats (Rattus flavipectus) were collected in Yunnan Province and 8 of the 86 liver samples from the wild rats were positive in Cb-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR). The Cb strains from the 8 rats were then typed into 3 genotypes using 10-spacer multispacer sequence typing (MST), and 2 of the 3 genotypes were recognized as novel ones. Moreover, the Cb strains in the wild rats were all identified as genotype 1 using 6-loci multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of genotypic diversity of Cb strains from wild rats in China. Further studies are needed to explore the presence of more genotypes and to associate the genotypes circulating in the wildlife-livestock interaction with those causing human disease to further expand on the epidemiological aspects of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Peisheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan OuYang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghui Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bohai Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolu Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghong Yuan
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Focal Disease Control and Prevention, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Basanisi MG, La Bella G, Nobili G, Raele DA, Cafiero MA, Coppola R, Damato AM, Fraccalvieri R, Sottili R, La Salandra G. Detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA in sheep and goat milk and dairy products by droplet digital PCR in south Italy. Int J Food Microbiol 2022; 366:109583. [PMID: 35182931 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that is responsible for Q fever, a common zoonosis which is present virtually worldwide. This microorganism infects a wide range of wild and domestic mammals, but the main reservoirs are cattle, goats and sheep, which also represent sources of human infection. A potential route of transmission of this pathogen to humans is the consumption of C. burnetii-contaminated raw milk or dairy products derived from contaminated raw milk, although the role of these foods as possible infection sources is controversial. The aims of this study were (i) to apply two ddPCR based assays targeting the C. burnetii IS1111 and icd genes for the detection and quantification of C. burnetii DNA, and (ii) to evaluate the occurrence of C. burnetii DNA in raw milk and raw milk products from sheep and goats in Apulia and Basilicata regions of Southern Italy. Of 413 milk and cheese samples tested, 78 were positive for the presence of C. burnetii DNA (18.9%), specifically, 68 of 285 milk samples (23.9%) and 10 of 128 cheese samples (7.8%) The presence of both IS1111 and icd genes was detected in only 2 (2.6%) of the 78 positive samples, while the remaining 76 (97.4%) were positive only for IS1111. C. burnetii DNA was specifically detected by the ddPCR method, whereas no cross-amplification was observed with the DNA of other foodborne bacterial pathogens. The sensitivity of the ddPCR method was determined as 0.35 and 0.56 copies/μL for IS1111 and icd genes, respectively. The findings of this study demonstrate the presence of C. burnetii DNA in a significant proportion of raw milk and dairy products. Although there is no conclusive epidemiological evidence that C. burnetii infection occurs via food, the presence of this organism in raw milk and dairy products made of raw milk should be considered a potential hazard. ddPCR is a useful tool to investigate the quality and safety of food products due to its sensitivity and precision, and could be applied to routine testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Basanisi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy.
| | - Gianfranco La Bella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Gaia Nobili
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Donato Antonio Raele
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Assunta Cafiero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Rosa Coppola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Annita Maria Damato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Rosa Fraccalvieri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Roldano Sottili
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Giovanna La Salandra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZS PB), Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
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Menadi SE, Chisu V, Santucciu C, Di Domenico M, Curini V, Masala G. Serological, Molecular Prevalence and Genotyping of Coxiella burnetii in Dairy Cattle Herds in Northeastern Algeria. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9020040. [PMID: 35202293 PMCID: PMC8874956 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In Algeria, data on the epidemiology of coxiellosis in cattle are still lacking. In this study, bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 200 randomly selected dairy cattle herds from Setif province of Algeria were analyzed by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results highlighted that 37% (95% CI: 30.31–43.69%) and 9% (95% CI: 5.03–12.96%) of BTM samples contained Coxiella burnetii antibodies and DNA, respectively. Based on Cohen’s kappa coefficient, a very low agreement between the ELISA and PCR results was found (k = 0.0849) (95% CI: 0.00–0.189). For a second experiment, 186 whole blood samples of cows from farms with reproduction disorders were analyzed by molecular tools to detect C. burnetii. This study revealed an overall prevalence of 6.98% (95% CI: 3.32–10.65%). All positive samples determined by conventional PCR were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Eleven samples with cycle threshold (Ct) values lower than 35 were selected for genotyping by the multispacer sequence typing (MST) method. The MST12 genotype in BTM samples, the MST32 genotype and a new MST genotype (partial profile) in whole blood samples were identified. Obtained results have allowed us to better understand the epidemiology of bovine coxiellosis in the region of Setif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salah Eddine Menadi
- Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, High National Veterinary School “RABIE BOUCHAMA”, Street Issad Abbes, Oued Smar, Algiers 16270, Algeria;
| | - Valentina Chisu
- Zoonotic Pathology and OIE Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Center for Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (C.S.); (G.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Cinzia Santucciu
- Zoonotic Pathology and OIE Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Center for Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (C.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (V.C.)
| | - Valentina Curini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (V.C.)
| | - Giovanna Masala
- Zoonotic Pathology and OIE Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Center for Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (C.S.); (G.M.)
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9
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Correlating Genotyping Data of Coxiella burnetii with Genomic Groups. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10050604. [PMID: 34069306 PMCID: PMC8156542 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic pathogen that resides in wild and domesticated animals across the globe and causes a febrile illness, Q fever, in humans. Several distinct genetic lineages or genomic groups have been shown to exist, with evidence for different virulence potential of these lineages. Multispacer Sequence Typing (MST) and Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) are being used to genotype strains. However, it is unclear how these typing schemes correlate with each other or with the classification into different genomic groups. Here, we created extensive databases for published MLVA and MST genotypes of C. burnetii and analysed the associated metadata, revealing associations between animal host and human disease type. We established a new classification scheme that assigns both MST and MLVA genotypes to a genomic group and which revealed additional sub-lineages in two genomic groups. Finally, we report a novel, rapid genomotyping method for assigning an isolate into a genomic group based on the Cox51 spacer sequence. We conclude that by pooling and streamlining existing datasets, associations between genotype and clinical outcome or host source were identified, which in combination with our novel genomotyping method, should enable an estimation of the disease potential of new C. burnetii isolates.
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10
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Tomaiuolo S, Boarbi S, Fancello T, Michel P, Desqueper D, Grégoire F, Callens J, Fretin D, Devriendt B, Cox E, Mori M. Phylogeography of Human and Animal Coxiella burnetii Strains: Genetic Fingerprinting of Q Fever in Belgium. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:625576. [PMID: 33718257 PMCID: PMC7952626 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.625576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are the primary source for human infection, and the identification of likely contamination routes from the reservoir animals the critical point to implement control programs. This study shows that Q fever is detected in Belgium in abortion of cattle, goat and sheep at a different degree of apparent prevalence (1.93%, 9.19%, and 5.50%, respectively). In addition, and for the first time, it is detected in abortion of alpaca (Vicugna pacos), raising questions on the role of these animals as reservoirs. To determine the relationship between animal and human strains, Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) (n=146), Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (n=92) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) (n=4) methods were used to characterize samples/strains during 2009-2019. Three MLVA clusters (A, B, C) subdivided in 23 subclusters (A1-A12, B1-B8, C1-C3) and 3 SNP types (SNP1, SNP2, SNP6) were identified. The SNP2 type/MLVA cluster A was the most abundant and dispersed genotype over the entire territory, but it seemed not responsible for human cases, as it was only present in animal samples. The SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C clusters were mostly found in small ruminant and human samples, with the rare possibility of spillovers in cattle. SNP1/MLVA B cluster was present in all Belgian areas, while the SNP6/MLVA C cluster appeared more concentrated in the Western provinces. A broad analysis of European MLVA profiles confirmed the host-species distribution described for Belgian samples. In silico genotyping (WGS) further identified the spacer types and the genomic groups of C. burnetii Belgian strains: cattle and goat SNP2/MLVA A isolates belonged to ST61 and genomic group III, while the goat SNP1/MLVA B strain was classified as ST33 and genomic group II. In conclusion, Q fever is widespread in all Belgian domestic ruminants and in alpaca. We determined that the public health risk in Belgium is likely linked to specific genomic groups (SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C) mostly found in small ruminant strains. Considering the concordance between Belgian and European results, these considerations could be extended to other European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tomaiuolo
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Samira Boarbi
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tiziano Fancello
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick Michel
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Damien Desqueper
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabien Grégoire
- Serology and Molecular Biology Unit, Association Régionale de Santé et d'Identification Animales (Arsia), Ciney, Belgium
| | - Jozefien Callens
- Small Ruminant Section, Dierengezondheidszorg (DGZ), Torhout, Belgium
| | - David Fretin
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Devriendt
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Eric Cox
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Marcella Mori
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
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11
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Szymańska-Czerwińska M, Jodełko A, Zaręba-Marchewka K, Niemczuk K. Shedding and genetic diversity of Coxiella burnetii in Polish dairy cattle. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210244. [PMID: 30629637 PMCID: PMC6328121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a worldwide zoonotic disease reported in humans and many animal species including cattle. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of Coxiella (C.) burnetii shedding in Polish dairy cattle herds and to identify the pathogen's genotypes and sequence types (STs) using multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and multispacer sequence typing (MST) methods. The presence of C. burnetii DNA was detected using a commercial real-time PCR kit, targeting the IS1111 element. Overall, 1,439 samples from 279 herds were tested including: 897 individual milk specimens, 101 bulk tank milk samples, 409 genital tract swabs and 32 placentas. Furthermore, 30 consumer milk samples, including 10 from vending machines and 77 dairy products were also analyzed. C. burnetii shedding was confirmed in 31.54% of tested cattle herds as well as in 69.16% of consumer milk and dairy products. Among real-time PCR-positive samples, 49 specimens obtained from 49 cattle herds and 8 samples of purchased dairy products were selected for genotyping. Overall, five previously known MLVA genotypes (I, J, BG, BE, and NM) and three new ones (proposed as PL1, PL2, and PL3) were identified. Two MST sequence types were recorded: ST16 and a novel sequence (ST61). The new genotypes and sequence types need further research particularly into their pathogenicity to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Szymańska-Czerwińska
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
- Laboratory of Serological Diagnosis, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Jodełko
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Kinga Zaręba-Marchewka
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Niemczuk
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
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12
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Di Domenico M, Curini V, Di Lollo V, Massimini M, Di Gialleonardo L, Franco A, Caprioli A, Battisti A, Cammà C. Genetic diversity of Coxiella burnetii in domestic ruminants in central Italy. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:171. [PMID: 29843709 PMCID: PMC5975477 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1499-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the epidemiology of human Q Fever generally reflects the spread of Coxiella burnetii in ruminant livestock, molecular characterization of strains is essential to prevent human outbreaks. In this study we report the genetic diversity of C. burnetii in central Italy accomplished by MST and MLVA-6 on biological samples from 20 goat, sheep and cow farms. Results Five MST and ten MLVA profiles emerged from the analysis establishing a part of C. burnetii strain world atlas. In particular, ST32 occurred on 12 farms (60%), prevalently in goat specimens, while ST12 (25%) was detected on 4 sheep and 1 goat samples. ST8 and a variant of this genotype were described on 2 different sheep farms, whereas ST55 was observed on a goat farm. Five complete MLVA profiles different from any other published genotypes were described in this study in addition to 15 MLVA incomplete panels. Despite this, polymorphic markers Ms23, Ms24 and Ms33 enabled the identification of samples sharing the same MST profile. Conclusions Integration of such data in international databases can be of further help in the attempt of building a global phylogeny and epidemiology of Q fever in animals, with a “One Health” perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
| | - V Curini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - V Di Lollo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Massimini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - L Di Gialleonardo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - A Franco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Roma, Italy
| | - A Caprioli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Roma, Italy
| | - A Battisti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Roma, Italy
| | - C Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
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13
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Mori M, Mertens K, Cutler SJ, Santos AS. Critical Aspects for Detection of Coxiella burnetii. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:33-41. [PMID: 28055578 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.1958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a globally distributed zoonotic γ-proteobacterium with an obligatory intracellular lifestyle. It is the causative agent of Q fever in humans and of coxiellosis among ruminants, although the agent is also detected in ticks, birds, and various other mammalian species. Requirements for intracellular multiplication together with the necessity for biosafety level 3 facilities restrict the cultivation of C. burnetii to specialized laboratories. Development of a novel medium formulation enabling axenic growth of C. burnetii has facilitated fundamental genetic studies. This review provides critical insights into direct diagnostic methods currently available for C. burnetii. It encompasses molecular detection methods, isolation, and propagation of the bacteria and its genetic characterization. Differentiation of C. burnetii from Coxiella-like organisms is an essential diagnostic prerequisite, particularly when handling and analyzing ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Mori
- 1 Bacterial Zoonoses of Livestock, Operational Directorate Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre, CODA-CERVA , Brussels, Belgium .,2 Belgian Reference Centre for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katja Mertens
- 3 Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses , Jena, Germany
| | | | - Ana Sofia Santos
- 5 Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge , Águas de Moura, Portugal
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14
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Galiero A, Fratini F, Cammà C, Di Domenico M, Curini V, Baronti I, Turchi B, Cerri D. Occurrence of Coxiella burnetii in goat and ewe unpasteurized cheeses: Screening and genotyping. Int J Food Microbiol 2016; 237:47-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Di Domenico M, Pascucci I, Curini V, Cocco A, Dall'Acqua F, Pompilii C, Cammà C. Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum genotypes that are potentially virulent for human in wild ruminants and Ixodes ricinus in Central Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:782-787. [PMID: 27020736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is an emerging tick-borne zoonosis worldwide. As is the case for many tick-borne diseases, the epidemiological cycle is associated to the environmental conditions, including the presence of wild vertebrate reservoir hosts, vectors, climate and vegetation. In this study a total number of 87 spleen samples of wild ruminants carcasses from Central Italy, and 77 Ixodes ricinus collected from the same dead animals were screened for Anaplasma phagocytophilum by using Real Time PCR. A. phagocytophilum DNA was detected in 75%, 66.7% and 54.2% of the spleen samples from red deer (Cervus elaphus), Apennine chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) respectively, whereas it was detected in the 31.2% of I. ricinus. A total of 27 positive samples were characterized by sequencing a portion of the groEL gene. Two A. phagocytophilum lineages could clearly be delineated from the phylogenetic tree. Four sequences from red deer, 2 from I. ricinus and 1 from Apennine chamois clustered into lineage I together with those previously described as virulent genotypes related to HGA. The presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA in the Apennine chamois represents the first report for this Italian endemic subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - I Pascucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - V Curini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - A Cocco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - F Dall'Acqua
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - C Pompilii
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - C Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy.
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16
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Pascucci I, Di Domenico M, Dall'Acqua F, Sozio G, Cammà C. Detection of Lyme Disease and Q Fever Agents in Wild Rodents in Central Italy. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 15:404-11. [PMID: 26134933 PMCID: PMC4507354 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of tick-borne disease agents in the environment strictly depends on the relationship between tick vectors and their hosts, which act as reservoirs for these pathogens. A pilot study aimed to investigate wild rodents as reservoirs for zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) was carried out in an area of Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park (Abruzzi Region, central Italy), a wide protected area where, despite sporadic reports of infection in humans and animals, eco-epidemiological data on these diseases are still not available. Rodents were trapped and released at the capture site after the collection of feeding ticks and blood samples. In all, 172 ticks were collected; the most frequent species was Ixodes acuminatus (53%). Out of 88 tick pools, 11 resulted positive for C. burnetii and 13 for B. burgdorferi s.l.; the Borrelia afzelii genospecies was identified in one Ixodes ricinus tick collected from one Apodemus sp. rodent. Out of 143 blood samples, seven Apodemus spp. and five Myodes glareolus were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. and two Apodemus spp. were positive for C. burnetii. All samples (ticks and blood) were negative for F. tularensis and A. phagocytophilum. This is the first report of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the environment for Abruzzi Region. Data on the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. are similar to that observed in other Mediterranean countries. The present work is also the first report of C. burnetii in wild rodents in Italy. C. burnetii infection has been largely investigated in Italy in ruminant farms by serology and molecular methods, but information on ecology and on the wild cycle are still lacking. Further studies including genotyping should be performed and species-specific differences between wild rodent reservoirs of Q fever and Lyme disease agents should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Pascucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" , Teramo, Italy
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" , Teramo, Italy
| | - Francesca Dall'Acqua
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" , Teramo, Italy
| | - Giulia Sozio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" , Teramo, Italy
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" , Teramo, Italy
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