Investigating the Role of Micromammals in the Ecology of in Spain.

, the causal agent of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis, is a zoonotic infectious bacterium with a complex ecology that results from its ability to replicate in multiple (in)vertebrate host species. Spain notifies the highest number of Q fever cases to the ECDC annually and wildlife plays a relevant role in ecology in the country. However, the whole picture of hosts is incomplete, so this study seeks to better understand the role of micromammals in ecology in the country. Spleen samples from 816 micromammals of 10 species and 130 vaginal swabs from were analysed by qPCR to detect infection and shedding, respectively. The 9.7% of the spleen samples were qPCR positive. The highest infection prevalence (10.8%) was found in , in which DNA was also detected in 1 of the 130 vaginal swabs (0.8%) analysed. Positive samples were also found in (8.7%), (7.7%) and (6.4%). Positive samples were genotyped by coupling PCR with reverse line blotting and a genotype II+ strain was identified for the first time in one of the positive samples from , whereas only partial results could be obtained for the rest of the samples. Acute Q fever was diagnosed in one of the researchers that participated in the study, and it was presumably linked to handling. The results of the study are consistent with previous findings suggesting that micromammals can be infected by . Our findings additionally suggest that micromammals may be potential sources to trace back the origin of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis cases in Europe.