Retrospective Biomolecular Investigation of Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira spp. DNA in Cases of Abortion, Stillbirth and Neonatal Mortality in Dogs and Cats

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Abortion and neonatal mortality are events that can occur in breeding bitches and queens. It has been reported that up to 55% and 33% of these cases remain without a known cause, respectively, in canine and feline pregnancies. Unusual abortigenic and potentially zoonotic agents, including Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira spp., may be involved in these cases. C. burnetii is able to cause reproductive disorders in cattle, sheep and goats, and cases of abortion have been observed in dogs and cats. Moreover, several outbreaks of C. burnetii infection in humans have been caused by delivering bitches and queens, and some of these animals experienced abortion. Leptospira interrogans sensu lato is able to cause abortion or stillbirth in several animal species and its abortigenic role has occasionally been described in bitches and queens. The aim of this study was to search for C. burnetii and Leptospira spp. DNA in a retrospective series of 103 cases of canine and feline abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality submitted for the identification of possible infectious agents. One hundred and fifty-one specimens were tested using PCR assays and found negative for C. burnetii and Leptospira DNA. However, in 49 samples (47.6%) other infectious causes of abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality were identified. These results showed that C. burnetii and Leptospira spp. are probably not common abortigenic agents or causes of neonatal deaths in dogs. However, given the potential abortigentic and zoonotic role of these agents, surveillance of canine and feline abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality could be advisable for a systematic investigation of these events.

Retrospective Study on the Occurrence of Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii in Dogs from Central Italy

“…Previous serological studies carried out in Italian dogs found different prevalences ranging from 0.87% to 8% [ 17 , 18 ], whereas a survey to detect C. burnetii in canine placenta and aborted fetuses did not find positive samples [ 20 ].…”

“…Even though the role of dogs in Q Fever epidemiology raises the interest of researchers in view of the One Health perspective, data about the spreading of this infection in canine populations are scant. In particular, investigations carried out in Italy were mainly performed on farm animals and wildlife [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], but studies on companion animals are very limited [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Leptospira spp. Prevalence in Cats from Southern Italy with Evaluation of Risk Factors for Exposure and Clinical Findings in Infected Cats

“…Leptospirosis is reported worldwide, and cases of feline leptospirosis have been described in Africa (Algeria and Reunion Island) [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], Asia (Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand) [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], America (Brazil, Chile, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts and the USA) [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], Europe (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Serbia and Spain) [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], the United Kingdom (Scotland) [ 34 ], and Oceania (New Zealand and Australia) [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. In Italy, Stefanetti and others [ 38 ] retrospectively investigated the role of Leptospira spp. in cases of abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality in cats, but none of the pathologic samples (placenta, pooled organs of fetuses and neonates) were found positive.…”

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in pig‐hunting dogs from north Queensland, Australia

“…Although pig hunters are not recognised by human health authorities in Qld as being an at‐risk group for Q fever, their exposure to the environment and feral pigs, potential hunting of other wildlife species like macropods and interaction with dogs may be associated with an increased risk. Increasingly, species other than ruminants are being implicated as potential sources of infection including cats and dogs, both of which have been associated with human outbreaks of Q fever, usually linked with attendance at parturition 9, 10, 37–47 …”

“…Increasingly, species other than ruminants are being implicated as potential sources of infection including cats and dogs, both of which have been associated with human outbreaks of Q fever, usually linked with attendance at parturition. 9 , 10 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47…”