1. Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in cattle and farm workers: is Q fever an underreported zoonotic disease in Ecuador?
- Author
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Elizabeth Minda-Aluisa, Jacobus H. de Waard, Herakles A. Garcia, Armando Reyna-Bello, Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain, Lisbeth Olmedo, Gustavo Echeverría, and Maritza Celi-Erazo
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Pharmacology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,biology ,business.industry ,Coxiella burnetii Infection ,Public health ,030106 microbiology ,Q fever ,Disease ,Coxiella burnetii ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Zoonotic disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Infectious Diseases ,Environmental health ,medicine ,Farm workers ,Pharmacology (medical) ,030212 general & internal medicine ,business ,Dairy cattle - Abstract
Background: Q fever is an underreported zoonotic disease of cattle and men in most countries of the world. Very little information about the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in animals and humans comes from South and Central America and systematic studies are lacking. Methods: A seroprevalence survey for Q fever amongst cattle, farm workers and students was conducted in Ecuador using a commercial ELISA kit. Results: Survey results showed an unexpectedly high prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in dairy cattle (43%) and in farm workers (34%). In addition, a clinical case in a human of acute Q fever in the convalescent stage was detected. Conclusion: We conclude that the disease is endemic in Ecuador but is overlooked by medical and laboratory personnel. Q fever should be considered a public health issue in Ecuador and further research into the clinical relevance of this infection is recommended.
- Published
- 2019