National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2013 Nov;216(6):698-702. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2012.12.010. Epub 2013 Jan 22.
During 2007-2010, over 4000 persons in The Netherlands contracted Q-fever, a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Goats and sheep are the main reservoir of C. burnetti and infected animals shed the bacterium with their urine, faeces and birth products. Human infections may occur through direct contact with infected animals, or through inhalation of contaminated dust particles or aerosols. Discharge of waste water from Q fever contaminated goat farms may result in the presence of C. burnetii in sewage water and aerosols at sewage water treatment plants (SWTPs) which may pose a health risk for workers or neighbouring residents. The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of C. burnetii at SWTPs and to optimize available detection methods. In March-July 2011, sewage influent and aeration tank samples from four SWTPs receiving discharge from Q fever positive goat farms were examined by using a multiplex real-time PCR detecting C. burnetii DNA by targeting IS1111 and com1 genes. Influent (44%; n=16/36) and active sludge (36%; n=13/36) samples were positive with low C. burnetii DNA content. Percentage positive samples per SWTP were 28-61%. Positive samples were most frequent in March 2011 and least frequent in May 2011. The presence of C. burnetii DNA in sewage water samples suggests that SWTPs receiving waste water from Q fever contaminated goat farms may contribute to the spread of C. burnetii to the environment. The low levels of C. burnetii DNA in sewage water during the decline of the Q fever outbreak in The Netherlands in 2011 indicate a low health risk for SWTP workers and residents.
在 2007 年至 2010 年间，荷兰有 4000 多人感染了 Q 热，这是一种由贝氏柯克斯体细菌引起的人畜共患病。山羊和绵羊是 C. burnetti 的主要宿主，感染动物会通过尿液、粪便和分娩产物排出细菌。人类感染可能通过直接接触感染动物，或通过吸入受污染的尘埃颗粒或气溶胶。从 Q 热污染的山羊养殖场排放的废水可能导致污水处理厂（SWTP）污水和气溶胶中存在 C. burnetii，这可能对工人或附近居民构成健康风险。本研究的目的是确定 SWTP 中是否存在 C. burnetii，并优化现有检测方法。在 2011 年 3 月至 7 月期间，对接收来自 Q 热阳性山羊养殖场排放物的四个 SWTP 的污水进水和曝气池样本进行了检测，采用多重实时 PCR 检测法，以靶向 IS1111 和 com1 基因检测 C. burnetii DNA。进水（44%；n=16/36）和活性污泥（36%；n=13/36）样本呈阳性，C. burnetii DNA 含量较低。每个 SWTP 的阳性样本百分比为 28-61%。阳性样本在 2011 年 3 月最为频繁，在 2011 年 5 月最为稀少。污水样本中存在 C. burnetii DNA 表明，接收来自 Q 热污染山羊养殖场废水的 SWTP 可能有助于 C. burnetii 向环境传播。2011 年荷兰 Q 热疫情下降期间，污水中 C. burnetii DNA 水平较低，表明 SWTP 工人和居民的健康风险较低。
