Prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii among veterinary school dairy herds in the United States, 2003

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2005 Spring;5(1):90-1. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2005.5.90.

Abstract

Prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in 24 veterinary school-associated dairy herds in the United States was assessed through laboratory testing of bulk tank milk specimens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. Twenty-two herds (92%) had evidence of antibodies to C. burnetii Phase I antibodies at a titer of > or = 1:16, and nine herds (38%) had Phase I antibody titers of > or = 1:256. These results suggest that C. burnetii infection is geographically widespread among dairy herds in the United States.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Milk / immunology
  • Q Fever / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / veterinary*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial