Concurrent seroprevalence of the zoonotic diseases Q fever and brucellosis and their association with abortion in small ruminants from Medea province, northern Algeria

Q fever and brucellosis are two important zoonotic diseases. They affect reproduction in small ruminants and have significant consequences for public health and the economy. This study aimed to investigate the presence of exposure to zoonotic pathogens, Coxiella burnetii and Brucella species, in small ruminants and to determine their seropositivity in the province of Medea, Northern Algeria. A total of ۱۵۷ blood samples were collected from ۱۷ flocks in Medea province from unvaccinated small ruminants. Only animals more than six months of age and that had stayed more than one year in the herd were sampled. Two indirect ELISAs were used to detect antibodies against C. burnetii and Brucella spp. This survey was conducted in sheep and goat flocks, indicating that antibodies were detected in ۱۶.۵% (۹۵% CI, ۱۰.۸ - ۲۲.۴) for C. burnetii and ۷.۶% (۹۵% CI, ۳.۵ - ۱۱.۸) for Brucella spp. This study provided seroprevalence data for two major zoonoses, Q fever and brucellosis, using the same small ruminant samples. Our results showed that C. burnetii infection was higher than that of Brucella spp. infection in small ruminants in this area. An intriguing result of the present study shows that co-infection was detected in the farm P in the Medea province. These findings are essential to implement a One Health approach to assess the incidence of these zoonoses in humans and to study transmission routes, particularly among people in direct contact with these animals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antibodies ، Brucella spp ، C. burnetii ، Goat ، Sheep