Genomic detection of Coxiella burnetii in goat milk samples in animal farms Khorramabad Township, Iran

Q fever is a worldwide disease with acute and chronic stages caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary reservoirs although a variety of species may be infected. Microorganisms are excreted in milk of infected animals. Other modes of transmission to humans are ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products. This study was conducted to determine the seasonal prevalence rate of Coxiella burentii in raw milk samples collected from goats in Khoramabad. In this cross-sectional study (from May 2013 to January 2014), 54 goat milk samples were collected from 8 herds. These samples were tested for the presence of Coxiella burnetii by the nested PCR method. In this study, from a total of 54 goat milk samples, 26 samples (48%) were found to be positive for the presence of Coxiella burnetii. Of the 20 spring samples, 18 (90%) and of the 34 autumn samples, 8 (23%) were positive for the presence of Coxiella burnetii. The analysis of the collected data in different seasons and areas revealed that, 52 percent of the samples were negative and about 48 percent were positive for Coxiella burnetii presence. It can be concluded that the season and the region of sample collecting affect the amount of bacterial excretion, and goat milk can be one of the potential source of Coxiella burnetii infection in Iran.