Sero-Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Q Fever in Cattle and Buffaloes Managed at Institutional Dairy Farms.

The present study was conducted to determine the sero-prevalence of Q fever and associated risk factors in institutional dairy farms in Punjab, Pakistan. A total 11 dairy farms were investigated from different areas of Punjab province. Out of these farms, a total of 827 animals (cows n=419 and buffaloes n=408) were investigated. Presence of anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies was determined by indirect ELISA. The overall prevalence in dairy animals (cattle and buffaloes) was 6.1% (95% CI: 4.5-7.9). In cattle prevalence was higher (7.6%; 95% CI: 5.3-10.6) than in buffaloes (4.4%; 95% CI: 2.6-6.9). The probability of occurrence of disease in cattle was higher (7.63%; OR=1.9, 95% CI: 0.99-3.25) than in buffalo (1.00%; OR=1.00) The difference in sero-prevalence between the two-dairy species was significant (p=0.052, x² = 3.786). Stratification of Q fever as per the breed of cattle indicated that the sero-prevalence was the highest (13%) in Cholistani followed by Sahiwal (7.5%) and cross bred (2.6%). Animals age between 2.1 to 5 year (OR=2.56, 95% CI 1.05, 6.20), contact with small ruminants (OR=1.43, 95% CI 0.63, 3.25), tick infestations (OR=4.91, 95% CI 2.40, 10.00), dry-dusty environment (OR=1.55, 95% CI 0.54, 4.43), retained fetal membranes (OR=1.68, 95% CI 0.94, 5.73) and abortion history (OR=2.17, 95% CI 0.88, 5.35) were risk factors for the seropositivity of Q fever. The results of the study indicated that Q fever is prevalent in cattle and buffalo managed at institutional dairy farms in Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]