Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Australian dogs

• Published in: Zoonoses and public health 2016-09, Vol.63 (6), p.458-466
• Main Authors: Shapiro, A. J., Norris, J. M., Heller, J., Brown, G., Malik, R., Bosward, K. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Australia - epidemiology; Coxiella burnetii; Disease transmission; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dogs; ELISA; Female; indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA); Male; Q fever; Q Fever - blood; Q Fever - epidemiology; Q Fever - veterinary; Seroepidemiologic Studies; serology; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1863-1959; 1863-2378
• DOI: 10.1111/zph.12250

Summary The role of dogs in the transmission of Coxiella burnetii to humans is uncertain, and extensive seroprevalence studies of dogs have not been previously conducted in Australia. This study determined C. burnetii exposure in four diverse canine subpopulations by adapting, verifying and comparing an indirect immunofluoresence assay (IFA) and an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used to detect anti‐C. burnetii antibodies in humans. Canine serum samples (n = 1223) were tested with IFA from four subpopulations [breeding establishments; household pets; free‐roaming dogs in Aboriginal communities; shelter dogs]. The proportions of seropositive dogs were as follows: breeding (7/309, 2.3%), household pets (10/328, 3%), Aboriginal communities (21/321, 6.5%) and shelters (5/265, 1.9%). Dogs from Aboriginal communities were 2.8 times (CI 1.5–5.1; P