Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya
Aims Q fever is a globally distributed, neglected zoonotic disease of conservation and public health importance, caused by the bacterium <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>. <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> normally causes subclinical infections in livestock, but may also cause reproductive pathology and spontaneous...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141569 |
| _version_ | 1855538500836786176 |
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| author | Rooney, T. Fèvre, Eric M. Villinger, J. Brenn-White, M. Cummings, C.O. Chai, D. Kamau, J. Kiyong’a, Alice Getange, D. Ochieng, D.O. Kivali, Velma Zimmerman, D. Rosenbaum, M. Nutter, F.B. Deem, S.L. |
| author_browse | Brenn-White, M. Chai, D. Cummings, C.O. Deem, S.L. Fèvre, Eric M. Getange, D. Kamau, J. Kivali, Velma Kiyong’a, Alice Nutter, F.B. Ochieng, D.O. Rooney, T. Rosenbaum, M. Villinger, J. Zimmerman, D. |
| author_facet | Rooney, T. Fèvre, Eric M. Villinger, J. Brenn-White, M. Cummings, C.O. Chai, D. Kamau, J. Kiyong’a, Alice Getange, D. Ochieng, D.O. Kivali, Velma Zimmerman, D. Rosenbaum, M. Nutter, F.B. Deem, S.L. |
| author_sort | Rooney, T. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Aims
Q fever is a globally distributed, neglected zoonotic disease of conservation and public health importance, caused by the bacterium <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>. <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> normally causes subclinical infections in livestock, but may also cause reproductive pathology and spontaneous abortions in artiodactyl species. One such artiodactyl, the dromedary camel (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>), is an increasingly important livestock species in semi-arid landscapes. Ticks are naturally infected with <i>C. burnetii</i> worldwide and are frequently found on camels in Kenya. In this study, we assessed the relationship between dromedary camels' <i>C. burnetii</i> serostatus and whether the camels were carrying <i>C. burnetii</i> PCR-positive ticks in Kenya. We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between camel seropositivity and carrying <i>C. burnetii</i> PCR-positive ticks.
Methods and Results
Blood was collected from camels (N = 233) from three herds, and serum was analysed using commercial ELISA antibody test kits. Ticks were collected (N = 4354), divided into pools of the same species from the same camel (N = 397) and tested for <i>C. burnetii</i> and <i>Coxiella</i>-like endosymbionts. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize seroprevalence by camel demographic and clinical variables. Univariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess relationships between serostatus (outcome) and tick PCR status, camel demographic variables, and camel clinical variables (predictors). Camel <i>C. burnetii</i> seroprevalence was 52%. Across tick pools, the prevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> was 15% and <i>Coxiella</i>-like endosymbionts was 27%. Camel seropositivity was significantly associated with the presence of a <i>C. burnetii</i> PCR-positive tick pool (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.4–5.1; p = 0.0045), increasing age class, and increasing total solids.
Conclusions
The role of ticks and camels in the epidemiology of Q fever warrants further research to better understand this zoonotic disease that has potential to cause illness and reproductive losses in humans, livestock, and wildlife. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace141569 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| publisherStr | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1415692025-12-08T10:11:39Z Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya Rooney, T. Fèvre, Eric M. Villinger, J. Brenn-White, M. Cummings, C.O. Chai, D. Kamau, J. Kiyong’a, Alice Getange, D. Ochieng, D.O. Kivali, Velma Zimmerman, D. Rosenbaum, M. Nutter, F.B. Deem, S.L. zoonoses animal diseases camels q fever Aims Q fever is a globally distributed, neglected zoonotic disease of conservation and public health importance, caused by the bacterium <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>. <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> normally causes subclinical infections in livestock, but may also cause reproductive pathology and spontaneous abortions in artiodactyl species. One such artiodactyl, the dromedary camel (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>), is an increasingly important livestock species in semi-arid landscapes. Ticks are naturally infected with <i>C. burnetii</i> worldwide and are frequently found on camels in Kenya. In this study, we assessed the relationship between dromedary camels' <i>C. burnetii</i> serostatus and whether the camels were carrying <i>C. burnetii</i> PCR-positive ticks in Kenya. We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between camel seropositivity and carrying <i>C. burnetii</i> PCR-positive ticks. Methods and Results Blood was collected from camels (N = 233) from three herds, and serum was analysed using commercial ELISA antibody test kits. Ticks were collected (N = 4354), divided into pools of the same species from the same camel (N = 397) and tested for <i>C. burnetii</i> and <i>Coxiella</i>-like endosymbionts. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize seroprevalence by camel demographic and clinical variables. Univariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess relationships between serostatus (outcome) and tick PCR status, camel demographic variables, and camel clinical variables (predictors). Camel <i>C. burnetii</i> seroprevalence was 52%. Across tick pools, the prevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> was 15% and <i>Coxiella</i>-like endosymbionts was 27%. Camel seropositivity was significantly associated with the presence of a <i>C. burnetii</i> PCR-positive tick pool (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.4–5.1; p = 0.0045), increasing age class, and increasing total solids. Conclusions The role of ticks and camels in the epidemiology of Q fever warrants further research to better understand this zoonotic disease that has potential to cause illness and reproductive losses in humans, livestock, and wildlife. 2024-08 2024-04-23T08:42:53Z 2024-04-23T08:42:53Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141569 en Open Access Wiley Rooney, T., Fèvre, E.M., Villinger, J., Brenn-White, M., Cummings, C.O., Chai, D., Kamau, J., Kiyong’a, A., Getange, D., Ochieng, D.O., Kivali, V., Zimmerman, D., Rosenbaum, M., Nutter, F.B. and Deem, S.L. 2024. <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> serostatus in dromedary camels (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>) is associated with the presence of <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya. Zoonoses and Public Health 71(5): 503–514. |
| spellingShingle | zoonoses animal diseases camels q fever Rooney, T. Fèvre, Eric M. Villinger, J. Brenn-White, M. Cummings, C.O. Chai, D. Kamau, J. Kiyong’a, Alice Getange, D. Ochieng, D.O. Kivali, Velma Zimmerman, D. Rosenbaum, M. Nutter, F.B. Deem, S.L. Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title | Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_full | Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_short | Coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) is associated with the presence of C. burnetii DNA in attached ticks in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_sort | coxiella burnetii serostatus in dromedary camels camelus dromedarius is associated with the presence of c burnetii dna in attached ticks in laikipia county kenya |
| topic | zoonoses animal diseases camels q fever |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141569 |
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