Seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in Portugal

Abstract

Q fever is caused by the pathogen Coxiella burnetii and is a zoonosis that naturally infects goats, sheep, and cats, but can also infect humans, birds, reptiles, or arthropods. A survey was conducted for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii in a sample of 617 free-ranging wild ruminants, 358 wild boar (Sus scrofa) and 259 red deer (Cervus elaphus), in east–central Portugal during the 2016–2022 hunting seasons. Only adult animals were sampled in this study. Antibodies specific to C. burnetii were detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; IDVet®, Montpellier, France) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection was 1.5% (n = 9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7–2.8%). Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 4/358 wild boar (1.1%; 95% CI: CI: 0.3–2.8%) and 5/259 red deer (1.9%; 0.6–4.5%). Results of the present study indicate that antibodies against C. burnetii were present in wild boar and red deer in Portugal. These findings can help local health authorities to focus on the problem of C. burnetii in wildlife and facilitate the application of a One Health approach to its prevention and control.

Hunting for Answers: Assessing Brucella spp. Seroprevalence and Risks in Red Deer and Wild Boar in Central Portugal

“…by species ranged from 5.4% in red deer to 35.5% in wild boar, the most often hunted game animals in Portugal. Nevertheless, data on the presence of zoonotic diseases in wild ungulates used for human consumption are generally sparse in Portugal [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Wild boars are also known to be carriers of numerous other infectious diseases and zoonoses [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Pigs in southern Italy are exposed to three ruminant pathogens: an analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors analysis study

“…A large-scale study carried out in Korea in 2015 highlighted a seroprevalence of 6.8% in ELISA (5.2% of total samples were confirmed positive using immunofluorescence) and a molecular prevalence of 0.3% (testing 637 pigs) [7]. Similarly, evidence of Q fever, both serological and molecular, has been described in wild boars, providing evidence for the wildlife-livestock-human interface [38][39][40][41]. The univariate analysis revealed higher seroprevalences in the Caserta province, where the spread of Q fever in buffalo and cattle had previously been documented [42].…”

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Relationship between Reproductive Performance and the Presence of Antibodies against Coxiellosis in Dairy Farm Milk Tanks in the Northwest of Spain

“…The different forms are related to the biological cycle of the bacteria and their survival. C. burnetii is highly resistant to heat, drying, and many disinfectants, allowing this bacterium to survive for long periods in the environment [9].…”

“…On the contrary, animals infected by C. burnetii rarely exhibit signs of disease, but the infection has been associated with an increase in the number of abortions, stillbirths, the birth of a weak calf, and infertility problems [20,21]. Apart from the control of C. burnetii infection in ruminants as a vital component of public health [9,10], given the important role of reproductive efficiency in dairy farm profitability, it is necessary to shed light on the negative effects of coxiellosis in cattle reproduction.…”