Is Coxiella burnetii circulating in wild birds in the North of Portugal?
2024
Loureiro, Filipa | Cardoso, Luís | Matos, Ana Cristina | Pintado, Cristina Santos | Silva, Filipe | Matos, Manuela | Coelho, Ana Cláudia
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis of important public health concern, and a disease that has a serious economic impact on the production of farm animals. The role of birds as vectors of bacteria and other pathogens to farm animals has been suggested, thorough environmental contamination of pasturelands, water supplies and feed by avian drops. Migratory birds might also be the mean of transport to infected ticks, posing a risk to humans and animals. Although it is known that birds are potential reservoirs of C. burnetii, their role in the epidemiological cycle of the pathogen is still scarce and has not been described in Portugal so far. A survey was conducted for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii in samples from 92 wild birds, collected in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northeastern Portugal. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; IDVet®, Montpellier, France) was used to detect antibodies specific to C. burnetii, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. No samples tested positive. Results of the present study indicate that antibodies against C. burnetii were absent in the study population, but further analysis are needed to be able to infer the true seroprevalence of this bacterium in wild birds in the country.
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