Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye

Çağatay Nuhay; Serap Savaşan

doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651

TR EN

Türkiye'nin İç Anadolu Bölgesindeki Koyunlarda Coxiella burnetii Enfeksiyonunun Seroprevalansının Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii, Q hummasının etkeni olan ve dünya genelinde önemli halk sağlığı ve veteriner hekimlik sorunlarına yol açan zoonotik bir patojendir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’nin İç Anadolu Bölgesi’nde yetiştirilen koyunlarda C. burnetii enfeksiyonunun seroprevalansını belirlemektir. Çalışma kapsamında sekiz ildeki (Afyonkarahisar, Aksaray, Antalya, Burdur, Isparta, Karaman, Konya ve Niğde) 100 koyun işletmesinden toplam 3.000 kan serumu örneği toplanmıştır. Örnekler, ticari bir ELISA kiti (IDEXX Q fever Ab Test) kullanılarak test edilmiş ve sonuçlar üretici firmanın talimatlarına göre değerlendirilmiştir. Analiz edilen 3.000 serum örneğinden 279’u pozitif bulunmuş olup, genel bireysel seroprevalans oranı %9.3 olarak belirlenmiştir. İl bazında seroprevalans oranları geniş bir aralıkta değişiklik göstermiş, en düşük oran %1.5 ile Antalya’da, en yüksek oran ise %18.9 ile Niğde’de saptanmıştır. Bu farklılıklar, bölgesel hayvancılık uygulamaları, biyogüvenlik seviyeleri ve iklim koşullarındaki değişikliklerle ilişkili olabilir. WOAH tarafından önerilen ELISA testinin kullanımı, C. burnetii’ye özgü antikorların tespiti için güvenilir bir tarama yöntemi sağlamıştır. Bu çalışma, İç Anadolu’daki koyun sürülerinde C. burnetii enfeksiyonunun varlığını ve bölgesel dağılımını ortaya koymaktadır. Hastalığın zoonotik potansiyeli ve sıklıkla subklinik seyretmesi nedeniyle, düzenli serolojik izleme, hastalıkla mücadele ve önleme stratejileri açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır. Elde edilen bulgular, Türkiye’de veteriner epidemiyolojisi ve halk sağlığı politikalarının geliştirilmesine katkı sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a zoonotic pathogen that poses significant public health and veterinary concerns worldwide. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection in sheep raised in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye. A total of 3,000 blood serum samples were collected from 100 sheep farms located in eight provinces (Afyonkarahisar, Aksaray, Antalya, Burdur, Isparta, Karaman, Konya, and Niğde). Samples were tested using a commercial ELISA kit (IDEXX Q fever Ab Test), and the results were interpreted according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Of the 3,000 serum samples analyzed, 279 tested positive, yielding an overall individual seroprevalence rate of 9.3%. Provincial seroprevalence varied widely, ranging from 1.5% in Antalya to 18.9% in Niğde. These differences may be associated with regional variations in animal husbandry practices, biosecurity levels, and climatic conditions. The use of ELISA, as recommended by the WOAH, provided a reliable screening method for detecting C. burnetii-specific antibodies. This study highlights the presence and regional distribution of C. burnetii infection in sheep farms in Central Anatolia. Given the zoonotic potential and often subclinical nature of the disease, regular serological monitoring is essential for disease control and prevention strategies. The findings contribute valuable data for veterinary epidemiology and public health policy development in Türkiye.

Keywords

References

Arricau-Bouvery, N., & Rodolakis, A. (2005). Is Q fever an emerging or re-emerging zoonosis? Veterinary Research, 36(3), 327–349. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2005010
Bagatır, P. S., Okumuş, B., Özgen, E. K., Ulucan, M., Yanmaz, B., & Aktaş, O. (2021). Seroprevalence of Q fever in small ruminants in the northeast Anatolian region in Turkey. Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 77(7), 337–340. https://doi.org/10.21521/mw.6522
Benkirane, A., Essamkaoui, S., El Idrissi, A., Lucchese, L., & Natale, A. (2015). A sero-survey of major infectious causes of abortion in small ruminants in Morocco. Veterinaria Italiana, 51(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.389.1814.1
Berri, M., Rousset, E., Champion, J. L., Arricau-Bouvery, N., Russo, P., & Pepin, M. (2003). Ovine manure used as garden fertiliser as a suspected source of human Q fever. Veterinary Record, 153(9), 269–270. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.153.9.269
Berri, M., Souriau, A., Crosby, M., & Rodolakis, A. (2002). Shedding of Coxiella burnetii in ewes in two pregnancies following an episode of Coxiella abortion in a sheep flock. Veterinary Microbiology, 85(1), 55–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1135(01)00504-5
Bisias, G., Burriel, A., Boutsini, S., Kritas, S., & Leontides, L. (2010). A serological investigation of some abortion causes among small ruminant flocks in Greece. Internet Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 8(2), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.5580/28f4
Blanda, V., Chiarenza, G., Giacchino, I., Migliore, S., Di Bella, S., La Russa, F., & Vicari, D. (2024). Molecular and serological findings in sheep during two Coxiella burnetii outbreaks in Sicily (Southern Italy). Animals, 14(22), 3321. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223321
CDC. (2024). Q fever: Epidemiology and clinical guidance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/q-fever

Ceylan, E., Berktas, M., Keles, I., & Agaoglu, Z. (2009). Seroprevalence of Q fever in cattle and sheep in the east of Turkey. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4(3), 114–121. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajava.2009.114.121
Çetinkaya, B., Kalender, H., Ertaş, B. H., Muz, A., Arslan, N., & Öngor, H. (2000). Seroprevalence of coxiellosis in cattle, sheep, and people in the east of Turkey. Veterinary Record, 146(5), 131–136. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.146.5.131
D’Agostino, R., & Pearson, E. S. (1973). Tests for departure from normality. Empirical results for the distributions of b² and √b1. Biometrika, 60(3), 613–622. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/60.3.613
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). (2024). The European Union One Health 2023 Zoonoses Report. EFSA Journal, 22(12), e8893. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8893
Eldin, C., Mélenotte, C., Mediannikov, O., Ghigo, E., Million, M., Edouard, S., & Raoult, D. (2017). From Q fever to Coxiella burnetii infection: A paradigm change. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 30(1), 115–190. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00045-16
Gazyagci, S., Aktas, M. S., Kilic, S., Babur, C., Çelebi, B., & Duru, S. Y. (2011). Seroprevalence of Q fever in dairy cattle in the Konya province, Turkey. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire, 162(8–9), 387–390.
Guatteo, R., Beaudeau, F., Berri, M., Rodolakis, A., Joly, A., & Seegers, H. (2006). Shedding routes of Coxiella burnetii in dairy cows: Implications for detection and control. Veterinary Research, 37(6), 827–833. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2006029
Guatteo, R., Beaudeau, F., Joly, A., & Seegers, H. (2007). Coxiella burnetii shedding by dairy cows. Veterinary Research, 38(6), 849–860. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2007039
Kalender, H. (2001). The incidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in ewes in Elazig and neighboring provinces. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 25(1), 51–55.
Karagül, M. S., Malal, M. E., & Akar, K. (2019). Seroprevalence of Q fever in sheep and goats from the Marmara region, Turkey. Journal of Veterinary Research, 63(4), 527–532. https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2019-0070
Kennerman, E., Rousset, E., Gölcü, E., & Dufour, P. (2010). Seroprevalence of Q fever (coxiellosis) in sheep from the Southern Marmara region, Turkey. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 33(1), 37–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2008.07.007
Kılıç, A., & Kalender, H. (2016). A study of the correlation between Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and abortions in sheep in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 50(3), 401–405. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijar.10992
Kırkan, Ş., Kaya, O., Tekbiyik, S., & Parin, U. (2008). Detection of Coxiella burnetii in cattle by PCR. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 32(3), 215–220.
Malal, M. E., Karagül, M. S., Ateşoğlu, A., & Akar, K. (2021). Investigation of Q fever seroprevalence in cattle in Turkey. Kocaeli University Health Sciences Journal, 7(1), 98–102. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.840429
Massey, F. J. (1951). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for goodness of fit. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 46(253), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1951.10500769
Maurin, M., & Raoult, D. (1999). Q fever. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 12(4), 518–553. McHugh, M. L. (2013). The Chi-square test of independence. Biochemia Medica, 23(2), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2013.018
Menzies, P. I. (2011). Control of important causes of infectious abortion in sheep and goats. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 27(1), 81–93.
Özalp, M., & Sayın, C. (2018). Antalya’da küçükbaş hayvancılıkta sürdürülebilirliğe etki eden ekonomik faktörlerin değerlendirilmesi. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi, 21, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.472776
Özgür, N. Y., Hasöksüz, M., Yılmaz, H., İkiz, S., & Ilgaz, A. (1997). İnfertilite sorunu olan dişi sığırlarda ve insanlarda Coxiella burnetii antikorlarının ELISA testi ile belirlenmesi ve seroprevalansının saptanması. Pendik Veteriner Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi, 28, 207–217.
Özsayın, D., & Everest, B. (2019). Koyun yetiştiriciliği yapan üreticilerin sosyo-ekonomik yapısı ve koyunculuk faaliyetiyle ilgili uygulamaları. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi, 22, 440–448. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.589725
Parin, U., & Kaya, O. (2015). Detection of Coxiella burnetii prevalence in bovine, ovine and caprine herds. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 62(3), 177–181.
Rousset, E., Russo, P., & Pépin, M. (2004). Q fever. In B. Vallat & S. Edwards (Eds.), OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (pp. 387–398). Paris: OIE.
Selim, A., Elhalg, M., & Moawed, S. (2018). A serological survey of four abortifacient infectious agents among small ruminants in Egypt. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13(2), 114–121.
Seyitoğlu, Ş., Özkurt, Z., Dinler, U., & Okumuş, B. (2006). The seroprevalence of coxiellosis in farmers and cattle in Erzurum district in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 30, 71–75.
WHO. (2023). World Health Organization Zoonotic Diseases Annual Report 2023. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Çağatay Nuhay ^*
0000-0002-1475-3041
Türkiye

Serap Savaşan
0000-0002-9826-077X
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

February 8, 2026

Publication Date

February 8, 2026

Submission Date

July 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA88HX73PS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Nuhay, Ç., & Savaşan, S. (2026). Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, 29(3), 659-664. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651

AMA

1.Nuhay Ç, Savaşan S. Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye. KSU J. Agric Nat. 2026;29(3):659-664. doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651

Chicago

Nuhay, Çağatay, and Serap Savaşan. 2026. “Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella Burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye”. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi 29 (3): 659-64. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651.

EndNote

Nuhay Ç, Savaşan S (April 1, 2026) Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi 29 3 659–664.

IEEE

[1]Ç. Nuhay and S. Savaşan, “Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye”, KSU J. Agric Nat., vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 659–664, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651.

ISNAD

Nuhay, Çağatay - Savaşan, Serap. “Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella Burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye”. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi 29/3 (April 1, 2026): 659-664. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651.

JAMA

1.Nuhay Ç, Savaşan S. Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye. KSU J. Agric Nat. 2026;29:659–664.

MLA

Nuhay, Çağatay, and Serap Savaşan. “Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella Burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye”. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, vol. 29, no. 3, Apr. 2026, pp. 659-64, doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651.

Vancouver

1.Çağatay Nuhay, Serap Savaşan. Determination of Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Sheep from Central Anatolia, Türkiye. KSU J. Agric Nat. 2026 Apr. 1;29(3):659-64. doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1752651