AI Article Synopsis
- A study conducted in Sardinia from 1999 to 2002 analyzed 9,349 blood samples and 517 aborted samples from sheep and goats to investigate the presence of the bacteria Coxiella burnetii.
- The study found that 38% of sheep farms and 47% of goat herds had detectable antibodies to C. burnetii, while 10% of sheep fetuses and 6% of goat fetuses tested positive for the bacteria's DNA.
- The results suggest that although C. burnetii is widely present in these animals, it plays a relatively minor role in causing abortions, particularly in goats, with the placenta showing the highest rate of detection.
Article Abstract
Between 1999 and 2002, 9349 sera and 517 aborted samples (422 foetuses and 95 placenta) were analysed from 675 sheep and 82 goat farms distributed all over the island of Sardinia. After abortion notification, sera collected at random from adult animals were examined to detect antibodies specific to Coxiella burnetii by ELISA, whereas foetuses and placenta were analysed by PCR assay. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 255 (38%) sheep farms and in 39 (47%) goat herds whereas 40 ovine (10%) and 3 (6%) caprine foetuses were C. burnetii PCR-positive. Although C. burnetii DNA was amplified from different types of tissues, placenta was the tissue with the highest detection rate. Seroprevalence analysis indicates that C. burnetii distribution in sheep and goats is very high, but PCR results demonstrate that C. burnetii has a relatively low role in abortion, especially in goats.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2004.01.006 | DOI Listing |
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