Occurrence of Bovine Coxiellosis in Small Livestock Farms of Uttar Pradesh, India

The present study aimed at assessing the occurrence of coxiellosis in cattle and buffaloes on 117 small-sized livestock farms owned by small or marginal farmers of 36 villages in Uttar Pradesh of India. The samples of blood and serum (250 each) collected from 86 cattle and 164 buffaloes were screened for Coxiella burnetii infection by PCR assay targeting IS1111 transposase gene of the pathogen (trans-PCR), Latex Agglutination Test employing synthetic linear antigenic peptide (LAP) of Com-1 protein of C. burnetii (Com-1 LAP-LAT) and commercial ELISA kit (IDEXX), taken as a reference. In our study, none of the bovine blood or serum samples showed the presence of C. burnetii DNA in trans-PCR, however, antibodies against the pathogen could be detected in sera of 5.6% (14/250) animals by Com-1 LAP-LAT and 5.13% (13/250) animals by ELISA kit. A way forward is suggested for developing improvised LAT as a simple, pragmatic, affordable diagnostic test having field applicability by employing multiple antigenic peptides of potential immunogenic proteins of C. burnetii. The risk of bovine coxiellosis under small livestock settings seems to be less than that reported on organised farms in India; however, studies involving many farms with varying holdings of large ruminants, which constitute the main proportion of milch animals, are needed for assessing the risks in bovines and their handlers in the right perspective.

• A seropositivity of 5.13% for coxiellosis was observed among bovines in small livestock farms of Uttar Pradesh.

• Developing an improvised LAT based on multiple antigenic peptides is suggested as a way forward.