Genomic detection of Coxiella burnetii in sheep milk samples by Nested-PCR method in Khorramabad, Iran

Q fever is a worldwide disease with is common between humans and livestock. This disease is created by an obligate intracellular Rickettsia called Coxiella burnetii. This study was conducted to identify the amount of C.burnetii prevalence in the raw Sheep milk in Khorramabad and its surrounding towns.
In this cross-sectional study (from Spring 2013 to Winter 2013), 72 Sheep milk samples were collected Randomly. These samples were tested for the presence of C. burnetii by the Nested PCR method.
In this survey, number 15 out of 72 (20.83%) sheep milk samples were positive for C. burnetii. The prevalence of C. burnetii varied during different seasons
The analysis of the collected data in different seasons and areas revealed that, more than 79/16 percent of the samples were negative and about 20.82 percent were positive in terms of C.burnetii presence. It can be concluded from this study the season and the region of sample collecting affects the amount of bacteria exerted, and that Sheep milk can be one of the potential sources of C. burnetii in Iran.