Prevalence and risk factors of coxiellosis in meat goat herds: an epidemiological investigation in Northeastern Thailand

Sarinya Rerkyusuke; Sawarin Lerk-U-Suke; Peerapol Sukon; Patchara Phuektes

doi:10.1080/23144599.2024.2379713

Prevalence and risk factors of coxiellosis in meat goat herds: an epidemiological investigation in Northeastern Thailand

Int J Vet Sci Med. 2024 Jul 26;12(1):60-70. doi: 10.1080/23144599.2024.2379713. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Sarinya Rerkyusuke^{1

2}, Sawarin Lerk-U-Suke^{3

4}, Peerapol Sukon^{2

5}, Patchara Phuektes^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Livestock Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
² KKU Research Program, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
³ Department of Geographic Information Science, School of Information and Communication Technology, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
⁴ Research unit of Spatial Innovation Development, School of Information and Communication Technology, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
⁵ Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
⁶ Division of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Abstract

Q fever/coxiellosis poses a significant threat to both human and animal health, with goats serving as important reservoirs for disease transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of coxiellosis and identify associated risk factors within meat goat herds in northeastern Thailand. A total of 39 meat goat herds were examined, with 84.61% of these herds experiencing reproductive disorders suggestive of Coxiella burnetii infection. Serum samples (n = 513) and vaginal swabs (n = 334) were collected from 522 goats for serological and molecular analyses, respectively. Results unveiled an overall herd prevalence of 74.35% (29/39), with a within-herd prevalence of 15.49% (95% CI: 10.86-20.12). Univariate analysis indicated that knowledge about the transmission of coxiellosis in herd owners serves as a protective factor against C. burnetii infection at the herd level (OR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.01-0.92; p = 0.04). Multivariable analysis identified two significant risk factors associated with C. burnetii infection at the herd level, including herd establishment exceeding 5 years (OR: 7.14; 95% CI: 1.05-48.4; p = 0.04), as well as reproductive failures including abortion, infertility, and weak offspring (OR: 17.65; 95% CI: 1.76-177.45; p = 0.01). Individual-level risk factors included female gender (OR: 8.42; 95% CI: 1.14-62.42; p = 0.03), crossbreeding (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.32-4.82; p = 0.005), and clinical signs of anaemia (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.01-2.64; p = 0.04). These findings underscore the widespread prevalence of Q fever in meat goat herds within the study area and emphasize the necessity of implementing targeted control strategies.

Keywords: Coxiellosis; Northeastern; Q fever; Seroprevalence; Thailand; meat goat; risk factors.

Grants and funding

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the farmers who participated in the study for their valuable cooperation. This research on the Prevalence and Risk factors associated with Q fever infection in small ruminant herds of Northeast Thailand, conducted by Khon Kaen University (Fundamental Fund 67) has been financially supported by the National Science Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF) under project [no. 214-2519/2566], as well as the Research and Graduate Studies (Research Program) under project [no. RP66-9-001] by Khon Kaen University.