Ferrara Gianmarco, Colitti Barbara, Pagnini Ugo, D'Angelo Danila, Iovane Giuseppe, Rosati Sergio, Montagnaro Serena
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, "Federico II", Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
Pathogens. 2022 Aug 10;11(8):901. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11080901.
Due to its economic impact on livestock and its zoonotic effect, Q fever is a public and animal health problem. Information on this infection in Italy is presently supported by reports of reproductive problems in livestock farms and is, therefore, insufficient to properly understand the impact of the disease. This study aimed to describe for the first time the seroprevalence of Q fever in dairy cows and water buffalos in the Campania region (Southern Italy). A total of 424 dairy cattle and 214 water buffalo were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 11.7% confirmed the wide distribution of in this region. Several factors were positively associated with higher seroprevalence, such as species (higher in cattle than in water buffalo), age, and coexistence with other ruminant species. The final model of logistic regression included only age (older) and species (cattle), which were positively associated with the presence of Q fever antibodies. Our findings support the widespread presence of in Campania and show a seroprevalence similar to that observed in previous studies in other Italian regions and European countries. Since human cases are typically linked to contact with infected ruminants, there is a need to improve surveillance for this infection.
由于Q热对家畜具有经济影响且为人畜共患病，它是一个公共卫生和动物健康问题。目前，意大利关于这种感染的信息主要来自家畜养殖场繁殖问题的报告，因此，这些信息不足以全面了解该疾病的影响。本研究旨在首次描述坎帕尼亚地区（意大利南部）奶牛和水牛中Q热的血清阳性率。使用商用间接ELISA试剂盒对总共424头奶牛和214头水牛进行了检测。总体血清阳性率为11.7%，证实了该病原体在该地区广泛存在。几个因素与较高的血清阳性率呈正相关，如物种（牛的血清阳性率高于水牛）、年龄以及与其他反刍动物物种共存。逻辑回归的最终模型仅包括年龄（较大）和物种（牛），它们与Q热抗体的存在呈正相关。我们的研究结果支持了坎帕尼亚地区广泛存在该病原体，并显示出与之前在意大利其他地区和欧洲国家研究中观察到的血清阳性率相似。由于人类病例通常与接触受感染的反刍动物有关，因此有必要加强对这种感染的监测。
