Journal of Animal Research
  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 3

Prevalence of Antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in Camel Milk in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia: a Comparison with Serum

  • Author:
  • Gar El Nabi1, Amel O. Bakhiet2, Mohammed A. Alshaikh1,, Riyadh S. Aljumaah1, Osama B. Mohammed3, Mansour F. Hussein1
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 431 to 435

1Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2Deanship of Graduate Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum North, Sudan

3Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding author: A Alshaikh; Email: alshaikh@ksu.edu.sa

Online published on 19 November, 2015.

Abstract

Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q-fever, were detected in lactating camels, cows and goats in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia, using an indirect ELISA test. A total of 246 milk samples collected from 69 camels. 90 cows and 87 goats were tested. Milk samples from 43 camels (62.32%), 30 cows (33.33%) and 22 goats (25.29%) were positive for anti-C. burnetii antibodies. Serum samples collected simultaneously from the same animals and tested by ELISA revealed anti-C. burnetii antibodies in 46 camels (66.67%), 38 cows (42.22) and 14 goats (16.20%). A significant correlation between ELISA results in milk and serum was observed in the species tested. These results confirm that ELISA can be used in milk instead of serum to detect antibodies against C. burnetii in lactating camels and other animals.

Keywords

ELISA, Coxiella burnetii, Antibodies, Livestock, Saudi Arabia