Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pilot serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in domesticated small ruminants in the United Arab Emirates

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in goats and sheep in the UAE was evaluated by ELISA testing of 437 small ruminant sera samples from livestock farms (LivF) and 478 from the Al Ain livestock market (AALM), and the data from the pilot serosurvey were analyzed using the z-test of two proportions and Fisher’s method. The overall proportion of C. burnetii-seropositive goats of 32.1% was significantly higher than 24.7% for seropositive sheep (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the difference in the proportions of C. burnetii-seropositive sheep from the LivF (27.9%) and AALM (21.7%) was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). By comparison, the proportion of C. burnetii-seropositive goats from LivFs was 31.6% compared to 32.5% for the goats from the AALM (p > 0.05). In addition, there was variability in the proportions of C. burnetii-seropositive goats and sheep from the different Emirates, but none of differences was statistically significant (p > 0.05). These data provide the first evidence of apparent C. burnetii infections in goat and sheep herds in the UAE with seropositivity rate that is significantly higher in goats than sheep. The epidemiology and animal and public health implications of this pathogen need to be thoroughly evaluated in the UAE.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Code availability

(software application or custom code).

Not applicable.

References

  • Afzal, M., Sakkir, M., 1994. “Survey of antibodies against various infectious disease agents in racing camels in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.” Revue scientifique et technique, 13, 787–792; https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.13.3.794.

  • Agresti, A., 1992. "A Survey of Exact Inference for Contingency Tables". Statistical Science. 7, 131–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alhamada, A.G., Habib, I., Barnes, A., Robertson, I., 2017. Risk factors associated with Brucella seropositivity in sheep and goats in Duhok Province, Iraq. Veterinary Sciences, 4, 65, https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci4040065.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angelakis, E., Raoult, E., 2010. Q fever. Veterinary Microbiology, 140, 297-309; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.07.016.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asadi, J., Kafi, M., Khalili, M., 2013. Seroprevalence of Q fever in sheep and goat flocks with a history of abortion in Iran between 2011 and 2012. Veterinaria Italiana. 49, 163-168.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Asseldonk, M.A.P.M., Bontje, D.M., Backer, J.A., Van Roermund, H.J.W., Bergevoet, R.H.M., 2015. Economic aspects of Q fever control in dairy goats. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 121, 115 -122; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.06.010.

  • Barati, S., Moori-Bakhtiari, N., Najafabadi, M.G., Momtaz, H., Shokuhizadeh, L., 2017. The role of zoonotic chlamydial agents in ruminant abortion. Iranian Journal of Microbiology, 9, 288-294.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barigye, R., Hassan, N.A.D., Abdalla-Alfaki, I.M., Barongo, M.B., Mohamed, M.E.H., Mohteshamuddin, K., 2021. Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in a dairy cattle herd from the Al Ain region, United Arab Emirates. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53, 112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02570-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera, V.E., 2014. Economics of fertility in high-yielding dairy cows on confined TMR systems. Animal, 8, 211-221; https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114000512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaber., A.L, Lloyd, C., O’Donovan, D., Mckeown, S., Werney, U., Bailey, T., 2012. A serologic survey for Coxiella burnetii in semi-wild ungulates in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 48: 220-222; https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-48.1.220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y.F., Yabes, J.G., Brooks, M.M., Singh, S., Weissfeld, L.A., 2015. A likelihood ratio test for nested proportions. Statistics in Medicine, 34, 525–538; https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.6363

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gadicke, P., Vidal, R., Monti, G., 2010. Economic effect of bovine abortion syndrome in commercial dairy herds in Southern Chile. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 97, 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.07.008.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gebremedhin, E.Z., Agonafir, A., Tessema, T.S., Tilahun, G., Medhin, G., Vitale, M., Marco, V.D., Cox, E., Vercuysse, J., Dorny, P., 2013. Seroepidemiological study of ovine toxoplasmosis in east and west Shewa zones of Oromia Regional State, Central Ethiopia. BMC Veterinary Research, 9, 117; https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-117.

  • Georgiev, M., Afonso, A., Neubauer, H., Needham, H., Thiery, R., Rodolakis, A., Roest, H., Stark, K., Stegeman, J., Vellema, P., van der Hoek, W., More, S., 2013. Q fever in humans and farm animals in four European countries, 1982 to 2010. Euro Surveillance: bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles. 18, 20407;

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, N.A.D., Mohteshamuddin, K., Al Aiyan, A., Mohamed, M.E.H., Biffa, D.A., Barigye, R., 2018. Serological evidence of Brucella spp, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydophila abortus, and Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep and goat herds in the United Arab Emirates. Proc. Neglected Tropical Diseases Congress: The Future challenges. December 05–06, 2018 Dubai, UAE.

  • Ioannidis, J.P., 2018. The proposal to lower P value thresholds to. 005. JAMA, 319, 1429–1430; https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.1536.

  • Kalambhe, D., Gill, G.P.S., Singh, B.B., 2017. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in the slaughter sheep and goats from the North India. Veterinary Parasitology. 241, 35–38;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.05.009

  • Liassides, M., Christodoulou, V., Moschandreas, J., Karagiannis, C., Mitis, G., Koliou, M., Antoniou, M., 2016. Toxoplasmosis in female high school students, pregnant women and ruminants in Cyprus. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 110, 359–366; https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trw038.

  • Lloyd, C., Stidworthy, M.F., Ulrich, W., 2010. Coxiella burnetti abortion in captive dama gazelle (Gazella dama) in the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 41, 83–89; https://doi.org/10.1638/2009-0005.1.

  • Lotfollahi, L., Chaharbalesh, A., Ahangarzadeh Rezaee, M., Hasani, A., 2017. Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and multiplex PCR-serotyping of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from humans, foods and livestock in Iran. Microbial Pathogenesis. 107, 425–429; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2017.04.029.

  • Moeller, R.B., Jr., 2001. Causes of caprine abortion: diagnostic assessment of 211 Cases (1991-1998). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigations. 13:265-270. https://doi.org/10.1177/104063870101300317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed, M.A., Shigidy, M.T., Al-Juboori, A.Y., 2013. Seroprevalence and epidemiology of brucellosis in camels, sheep and goats in Abu Dhabi Emirates. International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances. 5, 82-86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed, O.B., Jarelnabi, A.A., Aljumaah, R.S., Alshaikh, M.A., Bakhiet, A.O., Omer, S.A., Alagaili, A.N., Hussein, M.F., 1995. Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever in Saudi Arabia: molecular detection from camel and other domestic livestock. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 7, 715–719; DOI.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60122-X.

  • Moustafa, T., El-Gadir, F. 1993. Studies on foot and mouth disease in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Revue Scientifique et Technique. 12: 831–837; https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.12.3.719

  • Moustafa, T., 1993. Rinderpest and peste des petits ruminants-like disease in the Al-Ain region of the United Arab Emirates. Revue Scientifique et Technique. 12: 857–863; https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.12.3.716.

  • Nietfeld, J.C., 2001. Chlamydial infections in small ruminants. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice. 17:301–314; https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0720(15)30030-x.

  • Rousset, E., Sidi-Boumedine, K., Thiery, R., 2012. In: OIE Manual of diagnostic tests and vaccines for terrestrial animals, 7th ed. OIE Press, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahin, O., Fitzgerald, C., Stroika, S., Zhao, S., Sippy, R.J., Kwan, P., Plummer, P.J., Han, J., Yaeger, M.J., Zhang, Q., 2012. Molecular evidence for zoonotic transmission of an emergent, highly pathogenic Campylobacter jejuni clone in the United States. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 50, 680-687; https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.06167-11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Scrimgeour, E.M., Johnston, W.J., Al Dhary, S.I.I., El-Khatim, H.S., John, V., Musa, M., 2000. First report of Q. fever in Oman. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 6, 74–76; https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0601.000114.

  • Sherif, S., Al-Shorepy, S., Al-Juboori, A., Fathelrahman, E., 2014. Sustainability of sheep and goat production systems under the United Arab Emirates’ arid land constraints. APCBEE Procedia 8: 236-241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimshony, A., Economides, P., 2006. Disease prevention and preparedness for animal health emergencies in the Middle East. Revue Scientifique et Technique. 25, 253–269; https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.25.1.1667.

  • Singh, B.B., Dhand, N.K., Gill, J.P.S., (2015). Economic losses occurring due to brucellosis in Indian-livestock populations. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 199, 211–215; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.03.013.

  • Tagliabue, S., Figarolli, B.M., D'Incau, M., Foschi, G., Gennero, M.S., Giordani, R., Giordani, R., Natale, A., Papa, P., Ponti, N., Scaltrito, D., Spadari, L., Vesco, G., Ruocco, L., 2016. Serological surveillance of leptospirosis in Italy: two‑year national data (2010‑2011). Veterinaria Italiana. 52, 129–38; https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.58.169.2.

  • Thiaucourt, F., Bolske, G., 1996. Contagious caprine pleuripneumonia and other mycoplasmoses of sheep and goats. Revue Scientifique et Technique (International Office of Epizootics). 15, 1397-1414.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thrusfield, M., 2007. Veterinary epidemiology. 3rd ed. Hoboken, USA: Wiley-Blackwell, 230, 238–240.

  • Topazio, J., Tonin, A.A., Machado, G., Noll, J.C., Ribeiro, A., Moura, A.B., Carmo, G.M., Grosskopf, H.M., Martins, J.L., Badke, M.R., Stefani, L.M., Lopes, L.S., Da Silva, A.S., 2015. Antibodies to Leptospira interrogans in goats and risk factors of the disease in Santa Catarina (West side), Brazil. Research in veterinary science. 99, 53–57; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.01.014.

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by financial support provided by the United Arab Emirates University Research Office through a Startup Grant No. 31F099.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, P.O Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE

    Robert Barigye, Nabeeha Abdelgaleel D. Hassan, Hamda Khalfan Khamis Al Alawi, Afra Mohammed Balhayema Aldhaheri, Fatma Mohammed Ghanim, Maryam Ali Sumail Alkhateri, Nouf Saeed Ali Alalawi, Mohamed Elfatih H. Mohamed & Khaja Mohteshamuddin

  2. Department of Data Analytics in the Digital Era, College of Business and Economics, United Arab Emirates University, P.O Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE

    Ibrahim M. Abdalla-Alfaki

Authors
  1. Robert Barigye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nabeeha Abdelgaleel D. Hassan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ibrahim M. Abdalla-Alfaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hamda Khalfan Khamis Al Alawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Afra Mohammed Balhayema Aldhaheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fatma Mohammed Ghanim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Maryam Ali Sumail Alkhateri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Nouf Saeed Ali Alalawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Mohamed Elfatih H. Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Khaja Mohteshamuddin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Robert Barigye was PI of the research project, contributed to the study design and project implementation, supervised the field and laboratory work, and led the writing of the manuscript.

Nabeeha Abdelgaleel D. Hassan was the research assistant and participated in the field work and laboratory testing of the blood samples.

Ibrahim M. Abdalla-Alfaki was Co-PI and the project statistician that did the statistical data analysis and contributed to the writing of the manuscript.

Mohamed Elfatih H. Mohamed and Khaja Mohteshamuddin were Co-PI and contributed to the study design and writing of the manuscript,

Co-authors: Hamda Khalfan Khamis Al Alawi, Afra Mohammed Balhayema Aldhaheri, Fatma Mohammed Ghanim, Maryam Ali Sumail Alkhateri, and Nouf Saeed Ali Alalawi were third-year veterinary students that participated in the field collection of blood samples and participated in the ELISA testing of the serum samples.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert Barigye.

Ethics declarations

Human and animal rights consent

Note that this manuscript was not based on clinical studies and that animal restraint and blood collection by venipuncture was done in compliance with animal welfare standards.

Consent for publication

All persons included as co-authors on this manuscript have provided their consent and agree to be herein included.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Barigye, R., Hassan, N.A.D., Abdalla-Alfaki, I.M. et al. Pilot serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in domesticated small ruminants in the United Arab Emirates. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 156 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03150-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03150-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation