Journal article
A cross‐sectional survey of risk factors for the presence of Coxiella burnetii in Australian commercial dairy goat farms
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol.100(7), pp.296-305
2022
Abstract
The largest Australian farm-based outbreak of Q fever originated from a dairy goat herd. We surveyed commercial dairy goat farms across Australia by testing bulk tank milk (BTM) samples using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and two quantitative polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Of the 66 commercial dairy goat herds on record, managers from 61 herds were contacted and 49 provided BTM samples. Five of the surveyed herds were positive on at least one of the diagnostic tests, thus herd-level apparent prevalence was 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4 to 22). True prevalence was estimated to be 3% (95% credible interval: 0 to 18). Herd managers completed a questionnaire on herd management, biosecurity and hygiene practices and risk factors were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. Herds with >900 milking does (the upper quartile) were more likely to be Coxiella burnetii positive (odds ratio = 6.75; 95% CI 1.65 to 27.7) compared with farms with ≤900 milking does. The odds of BTM positivity increased by a factor of 2.53 (95% CI 1.51 to 4.22) for each order of magnitude increase in the number of goats per acre. C. burnetii was not detected in samples from the majority of the Australian dairy goat herds suggesting there is an opportunity to protect the industry and contain this disease with strengthened biosecurity practices. Intensification appeared associated with an increased risk of positivity. Further investigation is required to discriminate the practices associated with an increased risk of introduction to disease-free herds, from practices associated with maintenance of C. burnetii infection in infected dairy goat herds.
Details
- Title
- A cross‐sectional survey of risk factors for the presence of Coxiella burnetii in Australian commercial dairy goat farms
- Authors/Creators
- K.W. Hou (Author/Creator) - The University of MelbourneA.K. Wiethoelter (Author/Creator) - The University of MelbourneM.A. Stevenson (Author/Creator) - The University of MelbourneR.J. Soares Magalhães (Author/Creator)L. Lignereux (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideC. Caraguel (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideJ. Stenos (Author/Creator) - Barwon HealthG. Vincent (Author/Creator) - Barwon HealthJ.W. Aleri (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS.M. Firestone (Author/Creator) - The University of Melbourne
- Publication Details
- Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol.100(7), pp.296-305
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association
- Identifiers
- 991005542931207891
- Copyright
- © 2022 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.258 Zoonotic Diseases
- 1.258.2263 Coxiella Burnetii
- Web Of Science research areas
- Veterinary Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science