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Genova-Kalou P, Hodzhev Y, Tsachev I, Pepovich R, Panaiotov S, Dobrinov V, Krumova S, Boneva-Marutsova B, Chakarova B, Todorova K, Simeonov K, Baymakova M, Fournier PE. First Insight into the Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection among Veterinary Medicine Students in Bulgaria. Infect Dis Rep 2024; 16:794-805. [PMID: 39311202 PMCID: PMC11417759 DOI: 10.3390/idr16050061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection among veterinary medicine students from two Bulgarian Universities, located in Sofia and Stara Zagora. Blood samples were collected from a total of 185 veterinary students for the detection of C. burnetii phase II antibodies and presence of DNA using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and end-point PCR test. Out of all samples, 29.7% were positive for at least one C. burnetii phase II antibody marker or by the result of the PCR test. Veterinary students from Stara Zagora showed a significantly high seropositivity for Q fever (33.6%), as compared to the students in Sofia (23%; p < 0.05). Evidence of recent exposure with detection of anti-C. burnetii phase II IgM (+) antibodies was observed in 14.6% of the students under study. Seroprevalence among students in Stara Zagora was higher (15.3%). Anti-C. burnetii phase II IgG antibodies were detected in 21.6% of examined samples. Our study revealed a higher seropositivity among the male students (32.8%) as compared to females (16.0%; p < 0.05). The end-point PCR assay detected 5.9% blood samples as positive. The relative risk (RR) of Q fever exposure for male students was 40.7%, whereas it was 24.6% in females (p < 0.05). The findings from this study indicate that the C. burnetii infection is widely distributed amongst veterinary students in Bulgaria. This study emphasizes the need for improved safety protocols and infection control measures in veterinary training programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petia Genova-Kalou
- Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1233 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Yordan Hodzhev
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ilia Tsachev
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Roman Pepovich
- Department of Infectious Pathology, Hygiene, Technology and Control of Foods from Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stefan Panaiotov
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Veselin Dobrinov
- Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1233 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stefka Krumova
- Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1233 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Betina Boneva-Marutsova
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Borislava Chakarova
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Keytlin Todorova
- National Diagnostic and Research Veterinary Medical Institute “Prof. Dr. G. Pavlov”, Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Konstantin Simeonov
- National Diagnostic and Research Veterinary Medical Institute “Prof. Dr. G. Pavlov”, Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Pierre-Edouard Fournier
- French Reference Center for Rickettsioses, Q Fever and Bartonelloses, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
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Conan A, Gallagher CA, Erskine N, Howland M, Smith-Anthony M, Marchi S, Magouras I, Müller A, Becker AA. Is there a higher risk of exposure to Coxiella burnetii for pre-clinical veterinary students? One Health 2023; 16:100485. [PMID: 36691394 PMCID: PMC9860337 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100485] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is globally distributed but evidence of zoonotic transmission in the Caribbean region is scarce. The bacterium presence is suspected on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. The risk of exposure of veterinary students was reported in other regions of the world but is not documented in the Caribbean region. The present study aimed to evaluate the risk of exposure to C. burnetii for pre-clinical veterinary students (mostly coming from the U.S.) attending an island-based veterinary school. A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare incoming and outgoing veterinary students' seroprevalence. Serology was performed using indirect immunofluorescence assay to test Coxiella burnetii Phase I and Phase II immunoglobulins M and G. Background data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. A parallel study enrolled veterinary school employees in the same university. Of the 98 participants (48 incoming and 50 outgoing students), 41 (41.8%, 95 %CI: 31.9-52.2) were seropositive to C. burnetii. There was no significant difference between the two groups (45.8% for incoming vs. 38.0% for outgoing students) (p = 0.4). No risk factors (demographic, animal handling practices or background) were significantly more reported in the seropositive group. In the employee study, the seroprevalence was high with 8/15 seropositives (53.3%, 95 %CI: 26.6-78.7). Pre-clinical veterinary students do not have a higher risk of exposure to C. burnetii by attending the veterinary school in St. Kitts, but they are highly exposed before arrival on the island (seroprevalence of 45.8%). Most of these participants had experience with animals either through farming or previous veterinary technician employment. This indicates a high exposure in the U.S. young population aiming to become veterinarians. There is an urgent need to increase C. burnetii surveillance in animals and humans to apply relevant prevention and control measures, including recommendations for vaccination of students and professionals at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Conan
- One Health Center for Zoonoses & Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis,Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, City University of Hong Kong, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China,Corresponding author at: City University of Hong Kong, Room 504, Block 2, To Yuen Building, 31 To Yuen Street, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Christa A. Gallagher
- One Health Center for Zoonoses & Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Nicole Erskine
- One Health Center for Zoonoses & Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Michael Howland
- One Health Center for Zoonoses & Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Marshalette Smith-Anthony
- Student Health Services, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Silvia Marchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Ioannis Magouras
- Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, City University of Hong Kong, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ananda Müller
- One Health Center for Zoonoses & Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Anne A.M.J. Becker
- One Health Center for Zoonoses & Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Westfarm, PO Box 334, St. Kitts and Nevis
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