Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Cattle and Buffaloes in the Islamabad Capital Territory and Other Selected Districts of Pakistan

Muhammad Anas; Sami Ullah; Aitezaz Ahsan; Saeed ul Hassan Khan; Mansoor Hussain; Hamid Irshad

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i8.1813

Authors

Muhammad Anas Department of Zoology, Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
Sami Ullah Animal Health Research Laboratories, Animal Science Institute (ASI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), 44000, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan
Aitezaz Ahsan Animal Health Research Laboratories, Animal Science Institute (ASI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), 44000, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan
Saeed ul Hassan Khan Department of Zoology, Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
Mansoor Hussain Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Park Road Islamabad, 44500, Pakistan
Hamid Irshad Animal Health Research Laboratories, Animal Science Institute (ASI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), 44000, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i8.1813

Keywords:

Prevalence, Coxiella burnetii, Cattle and Buffaloes, Islamabad

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the sero-prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies and associated risk factors in large ruminants (cattle and buffaloes) of four districts of Pakistan. A total of 175 milk samples were investigated from different areas of Pakistan. Out of 175 milk samples, species data for 28 samples were missing. The presence of C. burnetii antibodies was determined by indirect ELISA. The overall prevalence in large ruminants (cattle and buffaloes) was 6.1%. In cattle prevalence was higher (7%) than in buffaloes (5.3%). The difference in sero-prevalence between cattle and buffaloes was insignificant (X² =1.30, p=0.5, df=2). Based on the dairy animal breed, the stratification of C. burnetii antibodies showed that Mix breed had the highest sero-prevalence (7.7%). Bhimber had a high prevalence (40%), while ICT had no positive case. Mirpur and Rawalpindi showed prevalence rates of 8.9% and 5%, respectively. Statistical analysis (χ²=10.61, df=10, p=0.3) indicated no significant differences between regions and C. burnetii antibodies. Associated risk factors for the seropositivity of C. burnetii antibodies were age of animals (X²=1.20, df=2, p=0.5), contact with small ruminants (X² =.50, p=0 .7, df=2), absence of rodents (X²=9.32 ,df=1, p=0.002), absence of ticks (X² = 1.989a, p=0.1, df=1), production system (X=.711^a ,df=1, p=0.3), breeding method (X² =1.11 p=0.5, df=2), abortion history (X² = 1.31, p = 0.5, df = 2), health issue (X² = 1.61, p= 1.0, df=14),herd size (X²=4.38 ,df=10,p=0.9), number of parities (X²=0.88, df=2, p=0.6).The results of this study indicated that C. burnetii antibodies are prevalent in cattle and buffaloes in four districts (ICT, Rawalpindi, Bhimber Azad Kashmir, Mirpur Azad Kashmir) of Pakistan.

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