Insights into the dynamics of endemic Coxiella burnetii infection in cattle by application of phase-specific ELISAs in an infected dairy herd

Serological diagnosis of acute and chronic Q fever in humans relies on detection of antibodies to phase I (PhI) and II (PhII) antigens of Coxiella ( C.) burnetii. Although phase-specific antigens are available, they are not yet used in ruminants as they are in humans. This study focuses on phase-specific serology as a tool for analysis of the dynamics of infection in cattle. As a prerequisite, sero-prevalence in Bavarian cattle (1) and sero-prevalences for age-groups (2) were determined by ELISA (CHEKIT Q-Fever; mix of PhI/PhII-antigen). Subsequently, phase-specific antigens were coated onto ELISA plates individually and tests were simultaneously applied in an endemically infected herd with about 90 dairy cows and 250 calves/heifers in April 2005, March 2006 and retrospectively in May and October 2004. From April 2005 onward, placentas were analysed for C. burnetii by PCR (3). (1) Sero- and herd prevalences based on 21,051 sera from 603 Bavarian dairy farms collected in 2003 were 14.8% ± 0.48% and 72.3% ± 3.6%, respectively. (2) Analysis of 3965 animals from 105 farms for which age was reported revealed a base level of sero-prevalence of less than 5% in 1–2 years old animals, it increased to 15% in 2–3 years old and reached a plateau (25–30%) in cows four years and older. (3) In May 2004 and April 2005 a peak of PhI −/PhII +-prevalence in primiparous cows (2.0–3.5 years) was observed; but not in October 2004 and March 2006. The PhI −/PhII +-pattern in primiparous cows changed to negative (one-third), PhI +/PhII + (1/3) or persisted (1/3). In contrast, sero-conversion was rare in multiparous cows (>3.5 years). If the PhI −/PhII + pattern was detected, it was due to an infection in preceding years. This pattern persisted (2/3) or changed to negative (1/3); a change to PhI +/PhII + did not occur. PhI −/PhII + in heifers (1–2 years) always changed to negative. Detection of PhII-antibodies was significantly associated with PCR-positive placentas. Remarkably, 45% of sera with the PhI −/PhII + pattern were negative for the CHEKIT Q-Fever ELISA, thus this test missed an important group of infected animals.