Seroprevalence and Molecular Characterization of Coxiella burnetii in Cattle in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cattle and how that prevalence is influenced by cattle breed and growth type. A total of 491 cattle [cattle breed: 216 dairy cattle and 275 beef cattle; growth type: indoor housed (n = 294) and grazing (n = 197)] were used. The presence of C. burnetii DNA and antibodies was detected from blood and serum samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The overall prevalence of C. burnetii was: 10.8% (95% CI: 8.0–13.5%) using PCR and 8.8% (95% CI: 6.3–11.3%) using ELISA. The prevalence of C. burnetii was significantly higher in beef cattle than in dairy cattle using both PCR (13.5% vs. 7.4%; P = 0.032) and ELISA (14.5% vs. 1.4%; P = 0.000), respectively. Comparison by growth type revealed that C. burnetii infection was significantly higher in grazing cattle than in housed cattle when using both PCR (24.9% vs. 1.4%; P = 0.000) and ELISA (21.3% vs. 0.3%; P = 0.000). Beef cattle were at a significantly higher risk of contracting C. burnetii compared with dairy cattle (odds ratio = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.80–5.67; P = 0.000). The risk of contracting C. burnetii in grazing cattle was increased by 32.57-fold (95% CI: 12.84–82.61; P = 0.000) compared with indoor housed cattle. The phylogenetic analysis based on the IS1111 gene revealed that our sequences grouped with human, tick, goat, and cattle isolates/strains found in several countries. C. burnetii sequences circulating in the Republic of Korea exhibit genetic variations. Thus, grazing is a high risk factor for the prevalence and transmission of C. burnetii.

Serological investigation of seven zoonotic pathogens in companion dogs in South Korea, 2018–2021

“…The possibility of false negative results cannot be excluded; however, as the manufacturer data confirm that the test has been validated for dogs, there is no reason to believe there was a particular problem with this specific test and seropositivity was generally found in dogs with predominantly outdoor lifestyles. Farm animals are the main reservoirs for C. burnetii , and seroprevalence rates are much higher in goats and cattle (Hwang et al., 2020 ; Jung et al., 2014 ). Hence, contact with livestock and their excretions is likely to be a major source of canine infection rather than tick bites.…”

Q Fever: A Troubling Disease and a Challenging Diagnosis

“…A survey of cow’s milk in the U.S. found that 94% of bulk tank milk samples are positive for C. burnetii DNA using PCR [ 22 ]. At the level of the individual animal, 10.8% of cattle in the Republic of Korea and 17.7% of cattle in India were found to have antibodies against C. burnetii [ 23 , 24 ]. A meta-analysis of bulk tank milk sampling from dairy cattle estimated overall herd-level prevalence of C. burnetii infection at 37% with a range of 10.7-76.9% [ 25 ].…”

Shedding and extensive and prolonged environmental contamination of goat farms of Q fever patients by Coxiella burnetii

“…In South Korea, the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in cattle is 0.4–10.5% (Lyoo et al., 2017; Na et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2014a; Seo et al., 2017; Hwang et al., 2020). Also, anti‐ C. burnetii antibodies have been detected in 13.0–41.4% of goats (Seong et al., 2020; Gang et al., 2016; Jung et al., 2014).…”