Identification of risk factors associated with Coxiella burnetii infection in cattle and buffaloes in India.

The etiological agent Coxiella burnetii is a highly infectious gram-negative bacterium that can affect multiple species. Many reports confirm its presence in humans, domestic ruminants and rodents in India. This study was aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with C. burnetii infection in bovine populations in Punjab, India. This study was conducted using a stratified two-stage random sampling approach. Twenty-two villages representing all districts of the state were selected. Bovine farmers were interviewed and detailed information about their management and husbandry practices was collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood, milk and genital swab samples were collected from the cattle and buffaloes owned by the farmers. An animal was declared C. burnetii infected by using a combination of tests in parallel, i.e. if it was positive in serological or molecular tests (IgG indirect ELISA or Trans-PCR assay). A herd was considered positive if at least one animal in the herd was declared C. burnetii infected using the above definition. Three binomial logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate the association of (a) geographical location, herd characteristics, and farm management practices with the herd status (herd model), (b) individual animal related factors with the C. burnetii infection status (individual animal model), and (c) production and health related factors with C. burnetii infection status in adult females (adult female model). We collected a total of 610 blood, 610 genital swabs and 361 milk samples from 378 cattle and 232 buffaloes in 179 herds/households. The practice of throwing away aborted materials outside the farm as compared to burial/burning (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.0, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.14-7.87, p = 0.02) was associated with larger odds of being a C. burnetii infected herd. On the other hand, separation of the animals from the rest of the herd during parturition had a protective effect for being a C. burnetii infected herd (adjusted OR 0.31, 95 % CI 0.18-0.77, p = 0.01). Being cattle as compared to buffalo (adjusted OR 3.37, 95 % CI 1.23-9.20, p = 0.02) and older (adjusted OR 3.37, 95 % CI 1.23-9.20, p = 0.02) were associated with larger odds of C. burnetii infection. The current study highlights that farm practices such as improper aborted material disposal and not separating the animals from the rest of the herd during parturition are important risks for the occurrence of C. burnetii infection in the bovine populations in the state.

Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cattle and buffalo populations in Punjab, India.

Q fever is an important zoonosis of animal and public health significance but there is very limited information about its prevalence in the Punjab state of India. The current study was designed to estimate Q fever prevalence in cattle and buffalo populations of the state. We randomly selected 22 villages, one from each of the 22 districts of Punjab. Households in these villages were randomly selected using village voter lists to ensure representative sample collection. Blood, vaginal swab and milk samples were collected from the animals in these enrolled households. Serum samples were screened using Coxiella burnetii specific IgG ELISA whereas milk and genital swab samples were subjected to a Trans-PCR assay. The agreement (Cohan's Kappa) between shedding of C. burnetii in milk and genital secretions and between ELISA and Trans-PCR was estimated. The selected PCR products were sequenced, and phylogenetic analyses were performed. We collected 610 blood samples, 610 genital swabs and 361 milk samples from 610 bovines (378 cattle and 232 buffaloes) in 179 households. Considering all tests in parallel and after adjusting for clustering, we estimated an overall individual animal prevalence of Q fever of 7.0% (95% CI: 4.7, 9.4). There was a low agreement between shedding of C. burnetii in milk and genital secretion (kappa: 14.3%; 95% CI: 5.6, 22.9) and between ELISA and Trans-PCR (10.3%; 95% CI: 3.2, 17.4%). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed all samples to be of C. burnetii. The results suggest that the disease is present in the state and further epidemiological information should be collected to determine its zoonotic potential and its impact on animal and public health in Punjab, India.

Isolation, antibiogram and pathogenicity of Salmonella spp. recovered from slaughtered food animals in Nagpur region of Central India.

AIM: To determine the prevalence, antibiogram and pathogenicity of Salmonella spp. in the common food animals slaughtered for consumption purpose at government approved slaughter houses located in and around Nagpur region during a period of 2010-2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 400 samples comprising 50 each of blood and meat from each slaughtered male cattle, buffaloes, pigs and goats were collected. Isolation was done by pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water and enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth with subsequent selective plating onto xylose lysine deoxycholate agar. Presumptive Salmonella colonies were biochemically confirmed and analyzed for pathogenicity by hemolysin production and Congo red dye binding assay (CRDA). An antibiotic sensitivity test was performed to assess the antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates. RESULTS: A total of 10 isolates of Salmonella spp. from meat (3 from cattle, 1 from buffaloes and 6 from pigs) with an overall prevalence of 5% among food animals was recorded. No isolation was reported from any blood samples. Pathogenicity assays revealed 100% and 80% positivity for CRDA and hemolytic activity, respectively. Antimicrobial sensitivity test showed multi-drug resistance. The overall resistance of 50% was noted for trimethoprim followed by ampicillin (20%). A maximum sensitivity (80%) was reported to gentamycin followed by 40% each to ampicillin and trimethoprim, 30% to amikacin and 10% to kanamycin. CONCLUSION: The presence of multidrug resistant and potentially pathogenic Salmonella spp. in slaughtered food animals in Nagpur region can be a matter of concern for public health.