One Health Approach: An Overview of Q Fever in Livestock, Wildlife and Humans in Asturias (Northwestern Spain)
Alberto Espí,
Ana del Cerro,
Álvaro Oleaga,
Mercedes Rodríguez-Pérez,
Ceferino M. López,
Ana Hurtado,
Luís D. Rodríguez-Martínez,
Jesús F. Barandika,
Ana L. García-Pérez
Affiliations
Alberto Espí
Department of Animal Health, Regional Service for Agrofood Research and Development (SERIDA), 33394 Gijón, Spain
Ana del Cerro
Department of Animal Health, Regional Service for Agrofood Research and Development (SERIDA), 33394 Gijón, Spain
Álvaro Oleaga
Translational Microbiology Consolidated Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (Health Research Institute of Asturias, ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
Mercedes Rodríguez-Pérez
Translational Microbiology Consolidated Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (Health Research Institute of Asturias, ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
Ceferino M. López
Department of Animal Pathology, Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27071 Lugo, Spain
Ana Hurtado
Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
Luís D. Rodríguez-Martínez
Animal Health Laboratory (LSAPA), Government of Principado de Asturias, 33201 Gijón, Spain
Jesús F. Barandika
Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
Ana L. García-Pérez
Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants, wild ungulates, as well as the current situation of Q fever in humans in a small region in northwestern Spain where a close contact at the wildlife–livestock–human interface exists, and information on C. burnetii infection is scarce. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii was 8.4% in sheep, 18.4% in cattle, and 24.4% in goats. Real-time PCR analysis of environmental samples collected in 25 livestock farms detected Coxiella DNA in dust and/or aerosols collected in 20 of them. Analysis of sera from 327 wild ungulates revealed lower seroprevalence than that found in domestic ruminants, with 8.4% of Iberian red deer, 7.3% chamois, 6.9% fallow deer, 5.5% European wild boar and 3.5% of roe deer harboring antibodies to C. burnetii. Exposure to the pathogen in humans was determined by IFAT analysis of 1312 blood samples collected from patients admitted at healthcare centers with Q fever compatible symptoms, such as fever and/or pneumonia. Results showed that 15.9% of the patients had IFAT titers ≥ 1/128 suggestive of probable acute infection. This study is an example of a One Health approach with medical and veterinary institutions involved in investigating zoonotic diseases.