Molecular detection of infection (Q fever) in livestock in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia.

The study aims to investigate the prevalence of Q fever in livestock and ticks in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, by molecular methods. Using DNA obtained from (40) blood samples, (60) vaginal swabs and ticks (120) samples. Real-time PCR was used to detect the insertion sequence of in aborted animals. Among 40 blood samples only one sample of the camel was found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 2.5 %. The highest prevalence (10 %) was recorded in AL-Laith in one camel blood sample out of 10 samples examined. Of 60 vaginal swabs examined for DNA, four samples were found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 6.6 %. The highest prevalence (10 %) was recorded in Makkah in two camel vaginal swabs out of 20 samples, followed by Jeddah and AL-Laith with a prevalence of (5.6 %) by detection of one sample positive out of 18 samples on each of them, while vaginal swabs from AL-Kamil were negative. Three types of ticks were identified , and tick is the most common in aborted camels with a prevalence (6.7 %) in Makkah followed by Jeddah (5 %). The findings of this study revealed that infection is prevalent in agricultural animals especially camels and ticks maintained at livestock farms in Makkah Province. However, these animals and ticks may pass on infections to nearby people and other animals in the study area.