Serosurvey and Risk Factors of Coxiella burnetii in Sheep and Goats in
three agricultural zones of Borno State, Nigeria
Abstract
Coxiellosis (Q-fever) caused by Coxiella burnetii is a
cosmopolitan zoonosis that causes significant losses through abortions
and stillbirths in small ruminants. A cross-sectional seroprevalence
study was conducted in three agricultural zones of Borno State in the
flocks of sheep and goats. Seven hundred sixty-eight small ruminants
(384 sheep and goats each) of both sexes (282 males and 486 females) of
different age groups from 90 flocks were randomly selected to collect
sera and related epidemiological data information. A commercial indirect
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA; I.D. Vet) was used to test
the samples for the presence of both phases I and II antibodies to
Coxiella burnetii infections. The seroprevalence in sheep and
goats was 10.9% (44/384) and 12.0% (46/384). There was no
statistically significant association in the two species of the animals
tested and the infection rates of coxiellosis. Bivariate analysis showed
that female animals of all species tested were more seropositive for
antibodies to Coxiella burnetii than males. There was a
statistically significant association between the sex of both sheep and
goats tested and the infection rates of coxiellosis. Breed and age of
sheep and goats were not statistically significant for seropositivity to
Coxiella burnetii. The study indicates that seroprevalence of
coxiellosis was high in the studied small ruminants’ population,
particularly among female sheep and goats and can be considered a
potential risk for both susceptible animals and humans in the study
area.