Query (Q) fever is an ubiquitous zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of C. burnetii in apparently healthy sheep, goats and farm workers. Raw milk and serum samples were randomly collected from 200 sheep, goats (100 of each) and 30 farm workers from Qaluobia governorate, Egypt during 2014/2015. The milk and serum samples were investigated for IgG antibodies against C. burnetii phase II antigen by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The seropositive samples were confirmed by touch –down PCR with specific primers which amplify transposon-like region of C. burnetti. The results showed that antibodies against C. burnetii in sheep raw milk and sera were 17% and 23% respectively, in goat raw milk and sera were 19% and 27% respectively and in human was 23.3% . PCR targeting IS1111 gene confirmed the presence of C. burnetti DNA in sheep and goats raw milk and sera were 82.4%, 89.5%, 91.3% and 85.2% respectively and in farm workers was 57.1%. These results proved that the apparently healthy sheep and goats are an important reservoir of C.burnetii infection. The farm workers constitute an occupational risk group for C. burnetii infection, for their contact with infected livestock |
