Development of harmonised schemes for the monitoring and reporting of Q‐fever in animals in the European Union

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a well-known zoonosis. The clinical presentation of Q fever is non-specific in most animals, with the exception of ruminants where Q fever is responsible for late abortion and stillbirths. Q fever has only recently been included in the Community Summary Reports on Zoonoses. Reporting from the European Union Member States is not harmonised and the level of information available varies considerably. Therefore, a project on the development of harmonised schemes for the monitoring and reporting of Q fever in animals in the European Union was launched. More than 30 different animal species susceptible to Q fever have been recorded in Europe. However, domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) represent the source most often associated to human outbreaks. Thus, it is proposed to focus monitoring schemes on domestic ruminants. A standardised definition is suggested for a herd/flock considered as clinically affected with Q fever. This includes the occurrence of serial abortions, confirmation of the presence of C. burnetii by Polymerase Chain Reaction and positive serology by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. It is further proposed that the monitoring of Q fever should mainly rely on a passive system aiming at the identification of clinically affected herds and flocks and diagnostic methods should include a combination of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Polymerase Chain Reactions. Guidelines for the interpretation of the test results are presented for cattle and small ruminants. Active monitoring schemes may be applied in countries that need to evaluate Q fever prevalence in their animal populations when the disease frequency in humans or animals is suspected to be high. Active monitoring can involve either bulk tank milk testing or sero-surveys. Harmonised reporting forms are suggested for submitting the information at Community level.

Epidemiology, Zoonotic Aspect and Current Epidemiological Situation of Q Fever in Poland

“…The diagnosis of Q fever is based on the serological test and the immunofluorescence assay. The ELISA and IFA tests are more sensitive than the CFT for detection of antibody response in animals or humans with acute Q fever but not for the detection of antibody response in humans with chronic Q fever and in aborting cows (Sidi-Boumedine et al, 2010). The ELISA and IFA detect antibody in acutephase sera, and they are quite efficient in binding IgM (these antibodies predominante in the acute stage), in contrast to the CF test.…”

“…A herd or a flock should be considered clinically infected with Q fever when abortion or stillbirths have occurred, positive PCR results confirming the presence of Coxiella burnetii on specimens from affected animals, positive results in the serology test. In cattle herds, the occurrence of a series of abortion: for herds less than 100 animals 2 abortion or more in the month or 3 abortions in the year; for herds more than 100 animals more than 4% of cows with abortions in the year, is the major warning sing to be taken into account (Sidi-Boumedine et al, 2010).…”

Coxiella burnetii, agent de la fièvre Q

“…Les études séro-épidémiologiques sont très éparses et les valeurs déterminées sont à considérer de manière critique. En effet, il existe des réactions croisées et les seuils de positivité bas entrainent une faible spécificité (Sidi-Boumedine et al 2010). De même, chez les ruminants, les méthodologies et la définition des seuils de positivité utilisés sont très différentes .…”

Guidelines for reporting 2017 prevalence sample‐based data in accordance with SSD2 data model

“…This data element is mandatory when data are reported on Coxiella (Q fever) at herd level. This is a numerical data element and it should be used to indicate the number of clinically affected herds fulfilling the definitions given in the report on 'Development of harmonised schemes for the monitoring and reporting of Q-fever in animals in the European Union' (Sidi-Boumedine et al, 2010). This attribute should be left empty during reporting on other zoonoses.…”