Mathews Karen O, Phalen David, Sheehy Paul A, Norris Jacqueline M, Higgins Damien P, Bosward Katrina L
Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Koala Health Hub, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Pathogens. 2024 Oct 4;13(10):873. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13100873.
Q fever is a zoonosis caused by , primarily affecting those in close contact with domestic ruminants, the main source of human infection. has also been detected in various wildlife species globally. In Australia, serological and molecular studies have shown exposure to and infection by in macropods, bandicoots, and koalas. However, the extent to which these species contribute to human infection remains unclear. An unpublished public health investigation into a Q fever case in a person involved in koala care could not conclusively link the infection to koalas due to the patient's broad animal exposure. This study aimed to explore the potential role of koalas in transmitting to humans by investigating the presence of DNA in urogenital tract (UGT) swabs from koalas. DNA was extracted from UGT swabs from koalas in three regions in New South Wales, Australia. An optimised multiplex qPCR assay detected DNA in 2 out of 225 samples (0.89%) at approximately 10 genome equivalents per reaction. Both positive samples amplified all three gene targets. MLVA genotyping identified two distinct genotypes previously isolated from Australian Q fever cases. These findings highlight the need for vaccination against Q fever for those in close contact with koalas.
Q热是一种由[病原体名称未给出]引起的人畜共患病，主要影响那些与家养反刍动物密切接触的人，家养反刍动物是人类感染的主要来源。在全球各种野生动物物种中也检测到了[病原体名称未给出]。在澳大利亚，血清学和分子研究表明，袋鼠、袋狸和考拉接触并感染了[病原体名称未给出]。然而，这些物种对人类感染的贡献程度尚不清楚。一项针对一名照顾考拉的人的Q热病例的未发表的公共卫生调查，由于患者广泛接触动物，无法确凿地将感染与考拉联系起来。本研究旨在通过调查考拉泌尿生殖道（UGT）拭子中[病原体名称未给出]DNA的存在情况，探讨考拉在将[病原体名称未给出]传播给人类方面的潜在作用。从澳大利亚新南威尔士州三个地区的考拉UGT拭子中提取DNA。一种优化的多重定量PCR检测方法在225个样本中的2个（0.89%）中检测到了[病原体名称未给出]DNA，每个反应约有10个基因组当量。两个阳性样本均扩增出所有三个基因靶点。MLVA基因分型鉴定出两种先前从澳大利亚Q热病例中分离出的不同的[病原体名称未给出]基因型。这些发现凸显了与考拉密切接触的人接种Q热疫苗的必要性。
