Abstract
Despite cattle herds can harbor Coxiella burnetii, risk factors for C. burnetii presence in dairy cattle herds are largely unknown. Therefore, C. burnetii herd prevalence and risk factors for bulk tank milk (BTM) positivity were investigated. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was filled out by the farmer and BTM from 301 farms was tested by ELISA for presence of C. burnetii antibodies and PCR for presence of C. burnetii DNA. Risk factors were identified by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Antibodies to C. burnetii were detected in 81.6% (CI: 77.2-85.9) and C. burnetii DNA in 18.8% (CI: 14.4-23.1) of the BTM samples. Herd size (OR. = 1.1 per 10 cows), cleaning the bedding of the cubicles at most every other day (OR. = 2.8) and purchase of cattle from at least two addresses (OR. = 3.1) showed a significant and positive association with ELISA positivity and use of an automatic milking system a negative association (OR. = 0.3). Risk factors for PCR positivity were purchase of cattle from at least two delivery addresses (OR. = 3.2), presence of cows with ticks (OR. = 2.0), use of an automatic milking system (OR. = 0.2) and presence of goats or sheep on the farm (OR. = 0.4). Biosecurity and general hygiene seem associated with introduction and spread of C. burnetii in dairy herds.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 103-109 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2014 |
Funding
We would like to thank all farmers for their cooperation in this study. In addition, we would like to thank Sanne Kelderman for the invitation mailings and providing reference data, and Ben Bom for generating geographical information. Finally, we thank all expert members of the Q-VIVE project group and affiliated organizations for their support and advice during the study: Jan van de Bergh, Olaf Stenvers, Rob van Oosterom, Mark Paauw, Harry Stinis, Ad de Rooij, Margo Vonk, Clementine Wijkmans and Wim van der Hoek. The study was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (grant no. 50-50800-98-100 : An integrated study on Q fever in livestock farmers and their (small) ruminants in the Netherlands); and co-financed by the Dutch Dairy Board , the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation . The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.
Keywords
- Dairy cattle
- Prevalence
- Q fever
- Risk factors