Serological survey of Q fever in goats and buffaloes in Ahvaz region using the ELISA method

Coxiellosis or Q fever of domestic animals which is caused by Coxiella burnetii is usually asymptomatic and subclinical; although it has also been associated with abortion and infertility. Domestic ruminants are the primary and important reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii, which is spread by the milk, urine, feces and vaginal mucous of infected animals. Inhalation of bacteria present in the environment is the main route of animal and human infection. The aim of this study was to survey seroprevalence of Q-fever in goats and buffaloes in Ahvaz Region. In this study, blood samples were collected randomly from 137 goats and 135 buffaloes in Ahvaz. The collected sera were tested for Coxiella burnetii by ELISA. Seroprevalence of Q fever was 34.31 in goats (95% Cl: 26.41–42.21) and 0% in buffaloes. Chi square test showed that prevalence in buffalo and goat is statistically different (p<0.001). Infection in goat had a significant association with age. Logistic regression showed that the odds ratio between the age based on year and infection is 1.57 (95% CI: 1.19-2.08) (p<0.001), with each single increase in age the odds of infection will increase by 57%. Also, 10.8% of fluctuations of infection were justified by age. The odds of infection in female goats was 1.58 times males (95% CI: 1.03–6.47) (p<0.05) and 4.5% of fluctuations of infection were justified by sex. The present study showed that the prevalence of Q-fever in goat population is considerable. Therefore Coxiella burnetii must be considered by veterinarians and health authorities as one of the most important zoonotic agents for prevention and control measures.