Seroprevalence of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in Sheep and Goats and associated Risk Factors

Abstract

A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted among flocks of sheep and goats in three agricultural zones of Borno State. 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 for blood collection and related epidemiological data. A commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA; I.D. Vet) was used to  test the sera samples for the presence of both phases I and II antibodies against Coxiella burnetii infections. The overall seroprevalence in sheep and  goats was 10.9% (44/384) and 12.0% (46/384). There was no statistically significant association between the two species of the animals tested and the  infection rates of coxiellosis (P = 0.734, OR= 0.924, 95% CI= 0.578–1.408). 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 (P = 0.032, OR = 0.439, 95% CI = 0.204–0.9470) and (P = 0.022, OR = 0.434, 95% CI = 0.208–0.903). Age of sheep and goats were not statistically  significant (P = 0.199, OR = 0.577, 95% CI = 0.247–1.346), (P = 0.304, OR = 0.670, 95% CI = 0.311–1.444. There was no statistically significant association  between the breeds of sheep and goats tested (P= 0.861, OR= 0.787, 95% CI= 0.315–1.964), and (P= 0.742, OR= 0.736, 95% CI= 0.264– 2.050). The study  indicates that seroprevalence of coxiellosis was high in the studied small ruminant population, particularly among female sheep and goats, and can be  considered a potential risk for both susceptible animals and humans in the study area.