Sero-epidemiological studies on coxiellosis in animals and man in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi (India).

The prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q-fever, was studied in domestic animals either at the farm or at the slaughter house and man in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). Evidence of Q-fever infection was observed in 24.29% of 490 cattle, 16.79% of 536 sheep, 16.02% of 1011 buffaloes, 15.85% of 1937 goats, 14.67% of 184 pigs and 14.29% of 49 street dogs. Twenty percent of 55 dairy cows, 9.52% of 21 dairy goats and 5.71% of 35 dairy buffaloes were found positive for C. burnetii antibodies in their milk. Of 1636 human sera samples tested, 249 (15.22%) were positive. Human sero-positive reactors in U.P. and Delhi were 15.59% and 14.39% respectively. Factors of age, sex, season antibody titres, co-existance of Q-fever and brucellosis and public health significance of high Q-fever infection in meat and dairy animals under the prevalent socio-economic conditions are discussed.