Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii and Coxiella species in rats and chickens from poultry farms in North West Province, South Africa.

Background: Coxiella burnetii is a bacterial pathogen that causes query fever and coxiellosis in humans and animals, respectively. There is a scarcity of studies on the prevalence of C. burnetii infections in rats and chickens in South Africa.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of C. burnetii in rats and chickens sampled from poultry farms in the North West Province of South Africa.

Methods: DNA was extracted from rodent kidneys (n = 68) and chicken faeces (n = 52). Two rodent pest species, namely Rattus rattus and Rattus tanezumi, were identified by analysis of CO1 gene sequences. Detection of C. burnetii was carried out using polymerase chain reaction assays targeting 23S rRNA, 16S rRNA and IS111 markers.

Results: C. burnetii was detected in 16.2%, 8.8% and 25% of R. rattus, R. tanezumi and chickens, respectively.

Conclusions: The findings in this study demonstrate that rodents and chickens are harbouring C. burnetii at sampled poultry farms. There should be frequent screening for C. burnetii in poultry operations. The likelihood of future transmission between rodents and chickens, including humans, also needs to be investigated.