Coxiella burnetii Infection in Livestock, Pets, Wildlife, and Ticks in Latin America and the Caribbean: a Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Abstract

Purpose of the Review Q fever , a bacterial zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, is reported very heterogeneously in humans in Latin America. The objective of this study was to review the data on Coxiella burnetii Infection in animals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent Findings A comprehensive literature review was carried out in the 47 countries and territories of Latin America on various search engines and grouped into four groups: livestock, pets, wildlife, and ticks. Summary Thus, 113 studies were selected between 1950 and 2022. Among the 47 countries, only 25 (53%) had at least one publication related to C. burnetii infection in animals. The most productive country was Brazil (N = 51), followed by French Guiana (N = 21), and Colombia (N = 16). Studies in livestock from 20 countries have shown widely varying country-to-country rates of seroprevalence, ranging from 0 to 67%. Some studies from seven countries, especially French Guiana and Brazil, found antibodies and sometimes positive PCR in dogs and cats, generally in the context of investigations around human clustered cases. Knowledge remained fragmented about infection in wildlife from only five countries (Chile, Colombia, Brazil, French Guiana, and Uruguay). C. burnetii infection was identified by PCR in Chiroptera (7 species), Rodentia (6 species), Suina (2 species), Xenartha (1 species), Cingulata (1 species), and Perissodactyla (1 species). Studies on Coxiella sp. in ticks have been performed in 11 countries, mostly in Brazil, and mainly found Coxiella-like endosymbionts. Thus, data on C. burnetii infection in animals are sparse and incomplete in Latin America and the Caribbean, and more research is warranted.

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Police Officers and Working Dogs in Brazil: Case Report and One Health Implications

“…Work operations are sometimes carried out in natural areas and contact with wild species and their ticks may explain the exposure. Among the mammals belonging to the local biodiversity are bats, skunks, and armadillos, and C. burnetii infections have already been described in bats and marsupials in Brazil [ 33 ]. In the operations, the animals are prevented from having physical contact with other species, but the role of wild animals in dispersing the bacteria in the environment is still unknown.…”

“…In addition to cattle, dogs and cats that are in close contact with humans are important potential reservoirs of C. burnetii during urban outbreaks of Q fever. Some cases of human infection have already been described as having dogs and cats as sources of infection; however, several pets have been found to be positive in investigations of human clusters, without these animals being incriminated in the transmission to humans [ 33 ].…”

Global and regional seroprevalence of coxiellosis in small ruminants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The condition is also similar in Oceania. It is also important to note that the coxiellosis situation in humans in these regions is also the highest in the world (Epelboin et al., 2023; Gidding et al., 2020). To better understand the situation, more studies are needed in these regions in order to investigate the role of goats in the transmission of coxiellosis to humans.…”