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Liu P, Wu J, Ma W, Yang Y, Lv L, Cai J, Liu Z, He J, Shang Y, Li Z, Cao X. Molecular detection and characterization of Coxiella burnetii in aborted samples of livestock in China. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107163. [PMID: 38428630 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of zoonotic Q fever. Animals are the natural reservoirs of C. burnetii, and domestic livestock represent the major sources of human infection. C. burnetii infection in pregnant females may causes abortion during late pregnancy, whereby massive shedding of C. burnetii with abortion products becomes aerosolized and persists in the environment. Therefore, monitoring and surveillance of this infection in livestock is important for the prevention of the C. burnetii transmission. Previous serological surveys have shown that C. burnetii infection is endemic in livestock in China. However, few data are available on the diagnosis of C. burnetii as a cause of abortion by molecular methods in livestock. To get a better understanding of the impact of C. burnetii infection on domestic livestock in China, a real-time PCR investigation was carried out on collected samples from different domestic livestock suffering abortion during 2021-2023. A total of 338 samples collected from eight herds of five livestock species were elected. The results showed that 223 (66 %) of the collected samples were positive for C. burnetii DNA using real-time PCR. For the aborted samples, 82 % (128/15) of sheep, 81 % (34/42) of goats, 44 % (15/34) of cattle, 69 % (18/26) of camels, and 50 % (17/34) of donkeys were positive for C. burnetii. Besides, 44 % (8/18) and 4 % (1/25) of asymptomatic individuals of sheep and donkey were also positive for C. burnetii. In addition, the positive samples were further confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the C. burnetii-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (icd) gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on specific gene fragments of icd genes revealed that the obtained sequences in this study were clustered into two different groups associated with different origin of hosts and geographic regions. This is the first report confirming that C. burnetii exists in aborted samples of sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys and camels in China. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the epidemiology of this pathogen in livestock as well as the potential risks to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jinyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Weimin Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Yamin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Lv Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jiang Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Zhijie Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jijun He
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Youjun Shang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Zhaocai Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China.
| | - Xiaoan Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China.
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Mohabati Mobarez A, Baseri N, Khalili M, Mostafavi E, Esmaeili S. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of Coxiella burnetii in domestic ruminant and clinical samples in Iran: insights into Q fever epidemiology. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20374. [PMID: 37990125 PMCID: PMC10663619 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47920-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii, a zoonotic pathogen, is the causative agent of Q fever, an endemic disease in Iran. However, there is currently a lack of available data on the genotypes of C. burnetii in the country. Here, we typed 26 C. burnetii isolates detected in milk, abortion, cotylodon, and cardiac valve samples from various geographical areas and hosts (7 cattle, 8 goats, 10 sheep, and 1 human) using Multilocus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA/VNTR) with five loci:ms24, ms27, ms28, ms33, and ms34. As IS1111 was observed to be spontaneously inserted in locus ms23 across all of our examined C. burnetii samples, five loci were employed for MLVA/VNTR genotyping. Among the 26 C. burnetii strains, 22 distinct genotypes (A-V) were identified in the discriminative loci. In silico analysis categorized Iranian C. burnetii strains into five genomic groups along with seven singletons, representing 11 exiting clonal complexes worldwide. Clusters 10 and 11 exclusively consisted of Iranian samples. These findings revealed high genotyping diversity among C. burnetii isolates in Iran. The genotypes circulating in Iran differed significantly from those found in other regions worldwide. To gain a comprehensive understanding of Q fever epidemiology in Iran, it is crucial to conduct large-scale studies that assess the distribution of C. burnetii genotypes across different geographical areas, hosts, and sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf Mohabati Mobarez
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Baseri
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar-Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khalili
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ehsan Mostafavi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar-Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Saber Esmaeili
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar-Ahang, Hamadan, Iran.
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3
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Bauer BU, Knittler MR, Andrack J, Berens C, Campe A, Christiansen B, Fasemore AM, Fischer SF, Ganter M, Körner S, Makert GR, Matthiesen S, Mertens-Scholz K, Rinkel S, Runge M, Schulze-Luehrmann J, Ulbert S, Winter F, Frangoulidis D, Lührmann A. Interdisciplinary studies on Coxiella burnetii: From molecular to cellular, to host, to one health research. Int J Med Microbiol 2023; 313:151590. [PMID: 38056089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2023.151590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Q-GAPS (Q fever GermAn interdisciplinary Program for reSearch) consortium was launched in 2017 as a German consortium of more than 20 scientists with exceptional expertise, competence, and substantial knowledge in the field of the Q fever pathogen Coxiella (C.) burnetii. C. burnetii exemplifies as a zoonotic pathogen the challenges of zoonotic disease control and prophylaxis in human, animal, and environmental settings in a One Health approach. An interdisciplinary approach to studying the pathogen is essential to address unresolved questions about the epidemiology, immunology, pathogenesis, surveillance, and control of C. burnetii. In more than five years, Q-GAPS has provided new insights into pathogenicity and interaction with host defense mechanisms. The consortium has also investigated vaccine efficacy and application in animal reservoirs and identified expanded phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of C. burnetii and their epidemiological significance. In addition, conceptual principles for controlling, surveilling, and preventing zoonotic Q fever infections were developed and prepared for specific target groups. All findings have been continuously integrated into a Web-based, interactive, freely accessible knowledge and information platform (www.q-gaps.de), which also contains Q fever guidelines to support public health institutions in controlling and preventing Q fever. In this review, we will summarize our results and show an example of how an interdisciplinary consortium provides knowledge and better tools to control a zoonotic pathogen at the national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin U Bauer
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael R Knittler
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jennifer Andrack
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Berens
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany
| | - Amely Campe
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bahne Christiansen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Akinyemi M Fasemore
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; ZB MED - Information Centre for Life Science, Cologne, Germany
| | - Silke F Fischer
- Landesgesundheitsamt Baden-Württemberg, Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit und Integration, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sophia Körner
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gustavo R Makert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Svea Matthiesen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany
| | - Sven Rinkel
- Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Martin Runge
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Schulze-Luehrmann
- Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ulbert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fenja Winter
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Frangoulidis
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; Bundeswehr Medical Service Headquarters VI-2, Medical Intelligence & Information, Munich, Germany
| | - Anja Lührmann
- Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
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4
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Gardner BR, Bachmann NL, Polkinghorne A, Hufschmid J, Tadepalli M, Marenda M, Graves S, Arnould JPY, Stenos J. A Novel Marine Mammal Coxiella burnetii-Genome Sequencing Identifies a New Genotype with Potential Virulence. Pathogens 2023; 12:893. [PMID: 37513739 PMCID: PMC10386718 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070893] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii has been identified in a few species of marine mammals, some of which are showing population declines. It has been hypothesized that C. burnetii in marine mammals is a distinct genotype that varies significantly from the typical terrestrial genotypes. It appears to lack an IS1111. Isolates originating from Australian marine animals have a distinctly non-Australian profile of multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA). Extracted Coxiella DNA of Australian fur seal placental origin was sequenced using the Novaseq platform. Illumina 150 bp paired-end reads were filtered and trimmed with Trimgalore. The microbial community present in the sequenced genome was evaluated with Kraken and Bracken software using the NCBI database. A phylogenetic analysis was performed using 1131 core genes. Core genes were identified using Panaroo and inputted into Iqtree to determine the maximum-likelihood tree. A second phylogenetic tree was created using Rickettsiella grylii and using seven housekeeping genes. Results were compared with the C. burnetii Nine Mile RSA439 virulent genome. This new Australian marine mammal isolate of Coxiella (PG457) appears to be a novel genotype that lacks IS1111 and has a distinct MLVA signature (ms26, ms27, ms28, ms30, and ms31). The presence of genes for multiple virulence factors appears to give this genotype sufficient pathogenicity for it to be considered a possible causative agent of abortion in Australian fur seals as well as a potential zoonotic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett R Gardner
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | | | | | - Jasmin Hufschmid
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Mythili Tadepalli
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Marc Marenda
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Stephen Graves
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - John P Y Arnould
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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5
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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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6
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Anastácio S, de Sousa SR, Saavedra MJ, da Silva GJ. Role of Goats in the Epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121703. [PMID: 36552213 PMCID: PMC9774940 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Since its first description in the late 1930s, Q fever has raised many questions. Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent, is a zoonotic pathogen affecting a wide range of hosts. This airborne organism leads to an obligate, intracellular lifecycle, during which it multiplies in the mononuclear cells of the immune system and in the trophoblasts of the placenta in pregnant females. Although some issues about C. burnetii and its pathogenesis in animals remain unclear, over the years, some experimental studies on Q fever have been conducted in goats given their excretion pattern. Goats play an important role in the epidemiology and economics of C. burnetii infections, also being the focus of several epidemiological studies. Additionally, variants of the agent implicated in human long-term disease have been found circulating in goats. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest research on C. burnetii infection and the role played by goats in the transmission of the infection to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Anastácio
- Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, Avenida José R. Sousa Fernandes 197 Lordemão, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Health Science Campus, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Sérgio Ramalho de Sousa
- Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, Avenida José R. Sousa Fernandes 197 Lordemão, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria José Saavedra
- Laboratory Medical Microbiology—Antimicrobials, Biocides and Biofilms Unit, Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences and Inov4Agro—Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Jorge da Silva
- Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Health Science Campus, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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Tesfamariam M, Binette P, Cockrell D, Beare PA, Heinzen RA, Shaia C, Long CM. Characterization of Coxiella burnetii Dugway Strain Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vivo. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2261. [PMID: 36422331 PMCID: PMC9692954 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative, intracellular bacterium that causes the zoonosis Q fever. Among the many natural isolates of C. burnetii recovered from various sources, the Dugway group exhibits unique genetic characteristics, including the largest C. burnetii genomes. These strains were isolated during 1954-1958 from wild rodents from the Utah, USA desert. Despite retaining phase I lipopolysaccharide and the type 4B secretion system, two critical virulence factors, avirulence has been reported in a guinea pig infection model. Using guinea pig models, we evaluated the virulence, whole-cell vaccine (WCV) efficacy, and post-vaccination hypersensitivity (PVH) potential of a representative Dugway strain. Consistent with prior reports, Dugway appeared to be highly attenuated compared to a virulent strain. Indeed, Dugway-infected animals showed similarly low levels of fever, body weight loss, and splenomegaly like Nine Mile II-infected animals. When compared to a human Q fever vaccine, QVax®, Dugway WCV exhibited analogous protection against a heterologous Nine Mile I challenge. PVH was investigated in a skin-testing model which revealed significantly decreased maximum erythema in Dugway Δdot/icm WCV-skin-tested animals compared to that of QVax®. These data provide insight into this unique bacterial strain and implicate its potential use as a mutated WCV candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahelat Tesfamariam
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Picabo Binette
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Diane Cockrell
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Paul A. Beare
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Robert A. Heinzen
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Carl Shaia
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Carrie Mae Long
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
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de França DA, Mioni MDSR, Fornazari F, Duré AÍDL, Silva MVF, Possebon FS, Richini-Pereira VB, Langoni H, Megid J. Seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii in suspected patients with dengue in São Paulo state, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010392. [PMID: 35536865 PMCID: PMC9122222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever and brucellosis are zoonoses that cause fever and other systemic clinical signs in humans; their occurrences are neglected and the differential diagnosis for some diseases is disregarded. This study aimed to investigate the seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii and Brucella spp. antibodies in patients suspected of dengue from 38 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The samples (n = 604) were obtained by convenience from the Adolfo Lutz Institute serum bank. Sera were subjected to an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using in-house and commercial diagnostic protocols to evaluate C. burnetii positivity. For Brucella spp., sera were subjected to rapid plate serum agglutination with buffered acidified antigen (AAT), slow tube serum agglutination (SAL), and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) techniques. Associations and statistical inferences of the results were performed by logistic regression according to the clinical and demographic variables collected from the patients. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) and associations were considered when p value was <0.05. In all, 129 patients showed positive results for Q fever, indicating a seropositivity of 21.4% (95% CI 18.15–24.85). Patients with 14–20 days of symptoms had 2.12 (95% CI 1.34–3.35) times more chances of being seropositive for Q fever than patients with 7–13 days, and patients with 21–27 days of fever had 2.62 (95% CI 1.27–5.41) times more chances of being seropositive for Q fever than patients with 7–13 days. For the other variables analyzed, there were no significant associations between the groups. No positivity for brucellosis was observed. This is the most comprehensive study of people seropositive for Q fever in São Paulo state and provides additional data for the medical community in Brazil. It is suggested that Q fever may be an important differential diagnosis of febrile illnesses in the region, demanding the government’s attention and investment in health. Brazil is a tropical country with a warm climate and large animal herds that favor many zoonotic agents that circulate in the territory. Due to the high prevalence of some tropical diseases, such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, important zoonoses have been neglected during the clinical evaluation of patients, resulting in misdiagnosis. Examples include Q fever and brucellosis, zoonoses that occur in animals in Brazil and are easily transmitted to humans through contaminated air and food products. There is not much data on these diseases in humans in the country representing their actual health situation. The current knowledge is supported by a few serological surveys developed by research groups and case reports. In this study, sera from patients with fever of unknown origin were positive for Q fever and brucellosis. The authors found that, contrary to brucellosis, Q fever has affected many people in São Paulo, the most populous state in the country. In addition, other findings regarding patient profile and disease behavior have been established. This research highlights the need for surveillance and control of Q fever in humans and animals to prevent acute cases and treat chronic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Alves de França
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Paulista State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mateus de Souza Ribeiro Mioni
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Paulista State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MM); (JM)
| | - Felipe Fornazari
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Paulista State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Íris de Lima Duré
- Octávio Magalhães Institute, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Sossai Possebon
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Paulista State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Helio Langoni
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Paulista State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jane Megid
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Paulista State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MM); (JM)
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Vellema P, Santman-Berends I, Dijkstra F, van Engelen E, Aalberts M, ter Bogt-Kappert C, van den Brom R. Dairy Sheep Played a Minor Role in the 2005-2010 Human Q Fever Outbreak in The Netherlands Compared to Dairy Goats. Pathogens 2021; 10:1579. [PMID: 34959534 PMCID: PMC8703908 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is an almost ubiquitous zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. This organism infects several animal species, as well as humans, and domestic ruminants like cattle, sheep and goats are an important animal reservoir of C. burnetii. In 2007, a sudden rise in notified human Q fever cases occurred in The Netherlands, and by the end of 2009, more than 3500 human Q fever patients had been notified. Dairy sheep and dairy goats were suspected to play a causal role in this human Q fever outbreak, and several measures were taken, aiming at a reduction of C. burnetii shedding by infected small ruminants, in order to reduce environmental contamination and thus human exposure. One of the first measures was compulsory notification of more than five percent abortion within thirty days for dairy sheep and dairy goat farms, starting 12 June 2008. After notification, an official farm inspection took place, and laboratory investigations were performed aiming at ruling out or demonstrating a causal role of C. burnetii. These measures were effective, and the number of human Q fever cases decreased; levels are currently the same as they were prior to 2007. The effect of these measures was monitored using a bulk tank milk (BTM) PCR and an antibody ELISA. The percentage PCR positive dairy herds and flocks decreased over time, and dairy sheep flocks tested PCR positive significantly less often and became PCR negative earlier compared to dairy goat herds. Although there was no difference in the percentage of dairy goat and dairy sheep farms with a C. burnetii abortion outbreak, the total number of shedding dairy sheep was much lower than the number of shedding dairy goats. Combined with the fact that Q fever patients lived mainly in the proximity of infected dairy goat farms and that no Q fever patients could be linked directly to dairy sheep farms, although this may have happened in individual cases, we conclude that dairy sheep did not play a major role in the Dutch Q fever outbreak. BTM monitoring using both a PCR and an ELISA is essential to determine a potential C. burnetii risk, not only for The Netherlands but for other countries with small ruminant dairy industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piet Vellema
- Department of Small Ruminant Health, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (C.t.B.-K.); (R.v.d.B.)
| | - Inge Santman-Berends
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (I.S.-B.); (E.v.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Frederika Dijkstra
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Erik van Engelen
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (I.S.-B.); (E.v.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Marian Aalberts
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (I.S.-B.); (E.v.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Carlijn ter Bogt-Kappert
- Department of Small Ruminant Health, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (C.t.B.-K.); (R.v.d.B.)
| | - René van den Brom
- Department of Small Ruminant Health, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (C.t.B.-K.); (R.v.d.B.)
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