TY - JOUR AU - Nikolaishvili, Marine PY - 2019/05/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - C. burnetii Shedding Study In Domestic Animals in Georgia JF - Online Journal of Public Health Informatics JA - OJPHI VL - 11 IS - 1 SE - Methods and Science in Surveillance DO - 10.5210/ojphi.v11i1.9738 UR - https://ojphi.org/ojs/index.php/ojphi/article/view/9738 SP - AB - <p>Objective</p><p>Q fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.One of the main goal of the project was shedding study in domestic animals – isolation of <em>C. burnetii</em> from suspected seropositive animal blood, milk samples.</p><p>Introduction</p><p>Q fever is a zoonotic bacterial disease resulting from infection by <em>Coxiella burnetii</em>. Domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) are considered the main reservoir for the pathogen, which can also infect humans. Q fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.<br />In Georgia Q fever laboratory diagnostic was started and implemented at the Laboratory of the Ministry of Georgia (LMA) within GG20 ,,Prevalence, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Laboratory Analysis of <em>Coxiella burnetii </em>in Georgia’’.</p><p>Methods</p><p>LMA conducted <em>Coxiella burnetii</em> shedding evaluation in three specific farms from Kvemo Kartli (Tsalka, Dmanisi) and Mtskheta-Mtianeti (Dusheti). Seropositive cattle and small ruminants were sampled per week. Sampling lasted 7 weeks and totally 581 samples samples (blood, milk and swab) were tested. Testing were conducted in a BSL3 laboratory under BSL3 working conditions. ACCM medium was used (2XACCm-2 acidified Citrate Cysteine Medium PH-4.75G N NaOH). The samples were incubated at 37°C using CO<sub>2.</sub></p><p>Results</p><p>As a result of the study, one culture was bacteriologically isolated from seropositive cattle milk sample ( the sample was taken on the third week of the study in Beshtasheni farm, Tslka, Kvemo Kartli) and confirmed by Molecular biology (PCR).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The study confirmed Q fever existence in Georgia. Traditionally considered an obligate intracellular agent, the requirement to be grown in tissue culture cells, embryonated eggs, or animal hosts has made it difficult to isolate <em>C. Burnetii</em> strains. Within the study one culture was isolated from the seropositive animal milk sample that was collected in the third week of the study. shedding of <em>Coxiella burnetii </em>in milk by infected cows appeared to be the most frequent positive sample for the bacterium.</p><p> </p> ER -