Epidemiological situation of Q fever in sheep, goats and cattle in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship between the years 2011 and 2015, based on monitoring studies and cases from clinical practice

The publication presents the results of monitoring Q fever in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship and three outbreaks disclosed as part of a clinical field practice. In five years (2011-2015) of examination in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship, 2,431 serological tests were carried out (1,851 in sheep, 343 in goats and 237 in cattle). Antibodies against Coxiella burneti were found three times. The first positive result in 2011 affected herds of goats and cattle and was confirmed in the reference laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy. A specific DNA sequence for Coxiella burneti by real-time PCR method was found. The farm consisted of 1,494 goats and 397 cattle. Serological tests were carried out to give positive results in 15.3% of the cattle and 5.77% of the goats from the whole herd. Breeding selection and the elimination of seropositive animals and double oxytetracycline treatment reduced the proportion of animals with a positive result to 5.53% in cattle and 0.96% in goats. After more than a year the elimination of seropositive animals and probable natural decline in antibody levels has led to the recognition of an outbreak of Q fever to be eliminated. The second positive result of the monitoring of Q fever was found in 2014 in one cow out of seven respondents, but the serological test was not confirmed in the reference, as a specific DNA sequence for Coxiella burneti was not found. The research conducted in sheep in 2015 showed the presence of antibodies against Coxiella burneti in two samples. The results were confirmed by the detection of genetic material of the pathogen by real-time PCR examination in the National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy. Three outbreaks of Q fever revealed in clinical practice related to bovine herds where clinical disturbances were observed in: reproduction, milk production decrease or increase in internal body temperature and symptoms of the respiratory system. The positive ELISA test results were the reason for the elimination of seropositive animals. Moreover, after the disclosure of infection two herds were vaccinated using an inactivated vaccine Coxevac (CEVA), which caused the improvement of production results and relief of clinical symptoms. It is worth mentioning that in two farms along with cattle there were fallow deer supported by staff cowman. Official monitoring tests of Q fever revealed an outbreak of the disease in a herd of goats and cattle, which lead to taking effective action to protect public health because of the zoonotic nature of this infection and epidemiological risk. In the disclosure of these clinical signs in cattle it is advisable to carry out laboratory tests for Q fever.