ABSTRACT:
Q fever is a major anthropozoonotic disease infecting animals and man all over the world except in the Antarctic and New Zealand. This study aimed to highlight the public health significance of Q fever among dairy cattle and the potential role of raw milk products in transmitting the infection to humans in Menoufia governorate. A total of 60 raw milk samples were collected from 60 apparently healthy Baladi dairy cows of different ages from 3 localities in Menoufia governorate (20 from Shebein El-Kom, 20 from Tala and 20 from Menouf) and examined for presence of C. burnetii DNA by PCR. Results revealed that 25% (15/60) of milk samples had C. burnetii DNA. No significant association was revealed between PCR positivity and the cattle age or selected localities. Moreover, the current study involved estimation of seroprevalence of anti-C. burnetii phase II IgG antibodies by ELISA test among 184 attendants of Shebein El Kom fever and chest hospitals in Menoufia governorate in relation to the habit of consumption of unpasteurized milk products. 41.85% (77/184) of the examined individuals were positive for phase II IgG antibodies. A highly significant association was found between increased seroprevalence and the pattern of consumption of unpasteurized milk products per week since the patients with the habit of usual consumption (5-7 days/week) had the highest seroprevalence rate 56.10% (23/41) versus 47.14% (33/70) and 28.77% (21/73) among those with moderate (2-4 days/week) and rare (0-1 days/week) patterns of consumption, respectively. In conclusion, presence of C. burnetii DNA in milk of cattle and C. burnetii phase II IgG in contact human being could confirm the role of food from animal origin in transmission of Q fever to man.