BURNEm ANTmODIES IN CALVES CONCENTRATED IN A LARGE-CAPACITY CALF HOOSE ' IN AN AREA WITH ENDEMIC INCIDENCE OF Q FEVER t ' LITERAK
Lit erA k A.: C;oxiella bu~tii antibodies in calves concentrated in a large-capacity calf house in an area with endemic incidence of latent Qfever. Acta vet. Bmo.63. 1994:' 6~. A total of 539 calves in a large-capacity calf house in the district of StJakonice (Czech Republic) were examined serologically for Coxiella burnet;; antibodies in 1988-1990 using the complement-fixation test. The antibodies were detected in 6% (3.6 to 8.4%. 95% confidence limits) of calves up to 14 days of age. in 1.5% (0.3' to 2.7%. 95% confidence limits) of calves aged 3 mOnths and in no animals aged 6 months. The calves showing antibodies after arrival at the large-capacity calf house within 14 days of age came from 13 different farms of the district. It is concluded that calves are not responsible for the spread of Q fever in herds even under the open-turnover system. Coxiella burnetii. calves. antibodies. CFT The presence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in cattle in the South-Bohemian region of the Czech Republic was investigated by Lis At et a1. (1989) during a two-year period. Using the complement-fixation test, they demonstrated C. burnetii antibodies in 16.5% of747 animals. mostly producing cows. coming from 23 farms. a e hAl! e k et a1. (1985) using the microagglutination reaction found C. burnetii antibodies in 10.8% of 370 cattle coming from 17 farms of the southern part of the Sumava region. In spite of a rather large proportion of serum-positive reagents. marked clinical manifestations of Q fever in these areas were not observed. The incidence of C. burnetii antibodies among calves in the South-Bohemian region was mentioned by a e h AI! e k et a1. (1985) only very briefly: 58 calves were examined upon arrival at a large-capacity calf house with negative results and in only one of them C. burnetii antibodies were detected before the animals were put to graze. The present study was designed to assess the serum prevalence of C. burnerii antibodies in calves shifted to a large-capacity calf house from different farms in the South-Bohemian region that; considering the observations reported by Li s At etal. (1989) and a e h AI! e ketal. (1985). can be regarded as one of endemic incidence of latent Q fever. Observations on C. burnetii antibodies among calves in other parts of the world were reported a. o. by Sawyer etal. (1973). Gossler and Burtschell (1973) and Adeseyun eta!. (1984). Materials and Methods' Calves were examined for C. burnetii antibodies on three occasions: upon arrival at a large-capacity calf house. after 3 months of their stay in the calf house upon change from milk feeding to vegetable feeding and before leaving the calf house at 6 months of age. The large-capacity calf house under study was located in the northern part of the district of Strakonice (Map No.1). From its catchment area 40 calves arrived each week, which represented about 60% of all calves born on the farms of this area. The calves were examined from the 21st ofJanuary to the II th ofJuly 1990. The blood samples were withdrawn at 3-month intervals. A total of 539 calves were examined; one examination only was carried out in 208 animals. 2 examinations also in 208 animals and 3 examinations in 123 animals. Upon arrival of the calves at the calf house within 14 days of age 400 examinations were carried out, 328 examinations were carried out on 3-month old animals and 265 examinations were conducted on animals aged 6 months. Thus the total number of examinations was 993. The detection of C. burnetii antibodies was made with the complement-fixation test using the micromethod technique with phase 2 antigen (Bodibion. Bioveta Nitra). The starting titre was 8 or 10. The sera with antibodies were diluted in two-fold steps to find the highest positive titre. Results c. burnetii antibodies were found in 6% (3.6 to 8.4%, 95% confidence limits) of calves up to 14 days of age, in 1.5% (0.3 % to 2.7 %, 95 % confidence limits) of 3-month old calves and were not detected in calves aged 6 months (Table 1).
Epidemiology and significance of Q fever in Czechoslovakia.
Over the last 35 years most parts of Czechoslovakia have experienced Q fever. Of particular note were outbreaks in factories processing imported cotton, wool and hides that had been contaminated in their countries of origin. Some areas of the southern part of Central Slovakia became a natural focus of Q fever with the Dermacentor marginatus tick being the main vector of coxiellae. Currently, Coxiella (C.) burnetii infection appears to be dormant in the country since only sporadic cases are encountered. Cattle vaccination practiced since 1980 may have contributed to the decreasing incidence of human Q fever.
Nahweis von Antikörpern gegen Chlamydia psittaci und Coxiella burnetii bei Hunden und Katzen: Vergleich zwischen Enzymimmuntest, Immunperoxidase‐Technik, Komplementbindungsreaktion und Agargelpräzipitationstest
Summary 
 
Detection of Antibodies to Chlamydia psittaci and Coxiella burnetii in dogs and cats: Comparison between Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Immunoperoxidase-Technique, Complement Fixation Test and Immunodiffusion Test 
 
 
 
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied for the first time to detect antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci and Coxiella burnetii in 1127 serum samples of dogs and 108 serum samples of cats originating from the Federal Republic of Germany. In comparison to the immunodiffusion test, the immunoperoxidase technique and the complement fixation test, the ELISA proved to be specific and superseded the other tests in sensitivity and practicability. Using a single serum dilution of 1:100 and an automated photometer, specific antibody levels of large numbers of sera could be determined quantitatively in a short time. In dogs, the ELISA revealed seroprevalences of 20% and 13% against Chlamydia psittaci and Coxiella burnetii, respectively. Of the cats 19% reacted against chlamydia and 26% against coxiella. 
 
 
 
Zusammenfassung 
 
In der vorliegenden Studie wurden 1127 Hundeseren und 108 Katzenseren aus der Bundesrepublik Deutschland auf ihren Gehalt an Antikorper gegen Chlamydia psittaci und Coxiella burnetii untersucht, wobei erstmals ein Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) zur Anwendung kam. Im Vergleich zu dem Agargelprazipitationstest, der indirekten Immunperoxidase-Technik und der Komplementbindungsreaktion erwies sich der ELISA bei gleicher Spezifitat den anderen Techniken an Sensitivitat und Praktikabilitat als deutlich uberlegen. Durch Anwendung von nur einer Serumverdunnung von 1:100 und eines automatischen Photometers konnte mit dem ELISA eine quantitative Bestimmung des spezifischen Antikorperspiegels in einer grosen Anzahl von Seren in kurzester Zeit durchgefuhrt werden. Anhand der im ELISA ermittelten Ergebnisse liesen sich in der Hundepopulation eine Seropravalenz von 20% gegen Chlamydia psittaci und 13% gegen Coxiella burnetii feststellen. In der Katzenpopulation lag die Seropravalenz bei 19% (Chlamydien) und 26% (Coxiellen).