Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy)
Q fever is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, primarily transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study aimed to detect <i>C. burnetii</i> in two Sicilian sheep flocks, with no better...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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author | Valeria Blanda Giuseppina Chiarenza Ilenia Giacchino Sergio Migliore Santina Di Bella Francesco La Russa Valeria Vaglica Rosalia D’Agostino Francesca Arcuri Carmela Sciacca Marilena Alfano Natalia Sciortino Alessandra Torina Francesca Grippi Domenico Vicari |
author_facet | Valeria Blanda Giuseppina Chiarenza Ilenia Giacchino Sergio Migliore Santina Di Bella Francesco La Russa Valeria Vaglica Rosalia D’Agostino Francesca Arcuri Carmela Sciacca Marilena Alfano Natalia Sciortino Alessandra Torina Francesca Grippi Domenico Vicari |
author_sort | Valeria Blanda |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Q fever is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, primarily transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study aimed to detect <i>C. burnetii</i> in two Sicilian sheep flocks, with no better defined reproductive disorders reported by the farmers. Blood, individual and bulk milk, ticks, and conjunctival swabs were collected from both flocks (A and B). Real-time and traditional PCRs were carried out to detect <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA and anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies were searched using an ELISA. In terms of Farm A, <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA was detected in 7.1% of blood samples, 20% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 66.6% of conjunctival swabs, and in all the examined tick pools. Anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies were found in 77.0% of sera, 92.5% of individual milk samples, and bulk milk. In terms of Farm B, <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA was detected in 3.8% of blood samples, 39.4% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 100% of conjunctival swabs, and in all tick pools; anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies were present in 53.6% of sera, 73.2% of milk samples, and in bulk milk. Our results highlight the high diffusion of <i>C. burnetii</i> in the two outbreaks, with widespread pathogen circulation, significant shedding in dairy products, and high environmental contamination, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures in dairy sheep farms. |
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id | doaj-art-5ad5b34dc57d45b98a33c5756cddbb71 |
institution | Kabale University |
issn | 2076-2615 |
language | English |
publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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spelling | doaj-art-5ad5b34dc57d45b98a33c5756cddbb712024-11-26T17:46:12ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-11-011422332110.3390/ani14223321Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy)Valeria Blanda0Giuseppina Chiarenza1Ilenia Giacchino2Sergio Migliore3Santina Di Bella4Francesco La Russa5Valeria Vaglica6Rosalia D’Agostino7Francesca Arcuri8Carmela Sciacca9Marilena Alfano10Natalia Sciortino11Alessandra Torina12Francesca Grippi13Domenico Vicari14Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyAzienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Agrigento, Viale della Vittoria, 321, 92100 Agrigento, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyQ fever is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, primarily transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study aimed to detect <i>C. burnetii</i> in two Sicilian sheep flocks, with no better defined reproductive disorders reported by the farmers. Blood, individual and bulk milk, ticks, and conjunctival swabs were collected from both flocks (A and B). Real-time and traditional PCRs were carried out to detect <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA and anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies were searched using an ELISA. In terms of Farm A, <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA was detected in 7.1% of blood samples, 20% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 66.6% of conjunctival swabs, and in all the examined tick pools. Anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies were found in 77.0% of sera, 92.5% of individual milk samples, and bulk milk. In terms of Farm B, <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA was detected in 3.8% of blood samples, 39.4% of individual milk samples, bulk milk, 100% of conjunctival swabs, and in all tick pools; anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies were present in 53.6% of sera, 73.2% of milk samples, and in bulk milk. Our results highlight the high diffusion of <i>C. burnetii</i> in the two outbreaks, with widespread pathogen circulation, significant shedding in dairy products, and high environmental contamination, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures in dairy sheep farms.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3321<i>Coxiella burnetii</i>sheepoutbreakpreventionraw milkSicily |
spellingShingle | Valeria Blanda Giuseppina Chiarenza Ilenia Giacchino Sergio Migliore Santina Di Bella Francesco La Russa Valeria Vaglica Rosalia D’Agostino Francesca Arcuri Carmela Sciacca Marilena Alfano Natalia Sciortino Alessandra Torina Francesca Grippi Domenico Vicari Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy) Animals <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> sheep outbreak prevention raw milk Sicily |
title | Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
title_full | Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
title_fullStr | Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
title_full_unstemmed | Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
title_short | Molecular and Serological Findings in Sheep During Two <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy) |
title_sort | molecular and serological findings in sheep during two i coxiella burnetii i outbreaks in sicily southern italy |
topic | <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> sheep outbreak prevention raw milk Sicily |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3321 |
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