Is the horse a reservoir or an indicator of Coxiella burnetii infection? Systematic review and biomolecular investigation

Marenzoni, M L and Stefanetti, V and Papa, P and Casagrande Proietti, P and Bietta, A and Coletti, M and Passamonti, F and Henning, K

Veterinary Microbiology (2013) 167: 662–669

DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.09.027

Abstract

The role of the horse in Coxiella burnetii infection has not been defined. Accordingly, a twofold approach was taken to further our knowledge on this topic: (1) conduct a systematic review of the literature to establish available evidence of C. burnetii infection in the horse; (2) undertake a biomolecular investigation of 122 cases of equine abortion, stillbirth and neonatal foal death, for the presence of C. burnetii using a PCR test targeting the IS1111 gene of C. burnetii. A review of the literature turned up seven studies that identified C. burnetii DNA in equine specimens, especially aborted fetuses, while an additional 34 studies sought to determine seroprevalence of the infection in the horse. A meta-analytical approach was taken to calculate a pooled mean seroprevalence in equines based on published studies. A seroprevalence of 15.8% (95% confidence interval: 9.6-23.0%) was obtained. This figure is comparable to those previously reported in other species, especially ruminants. None of the 122 cases of equine abortion, stillbirth or neonatal foal death were positive for C. burnetii DNA. C. burnetii has rarely been looked for in equine specimens in previous studies. Cases of equine abortion should be comprehensively investigated to assess the risk of abortion in a pregnant mare infected with C. burnetii. Consideration should also be given to the possible role of the horse as a source of the organism for other animal species including humans.

Citation

Marenzoni, M. L., Stefanetti, V., Papa, P., Casagrande Proietti, P., Bietta, A., Coletti, M., Passamonti, F., & Henning, K. (2013). Is the horse a reservoir or an indicator of Coxiella burnetii infection? Systematic review and biomolecular investigation. Veterinary Microbiology, 167(3-4), 662–669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.09.027 Animals, Female, Pregnancy, Horses, Aborted Fetus/microbiology, Abortion, Bacterial, Bacterial/blood, Coxiella burnetii/genetics, Coxiella burnetii/physiology, DNA, Horse Diseases/epidemiology, Horse Diseases/microbiology, Newborn/microbiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary, Q Fever/diagnosis, Q Fever/epidemiology, Q Fever/microbiology, Q Fever/veterinary, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Veterinary/microbiology

Keywords

• Animals
• Female
• Pregnancy
• Horses
• Aborted Fetus/microbiology
• Abortion
• Bacterial
• Bacterial/blood
• Coxiella burnetii/genetics
• Coxiella burnetii/physiology
• DNA
• Horse Diseases/epidemiology
• Horse Diseases/microbiology
• Newborn/microbiology
• Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary
• Q Fever/diagnosis
• Q Fever/epidemiology
• Q Fever/microbiology
• Q Fever/veterinary
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Veterinary/microbiology