Prevalence of Q fever in free-living runinants in the Czech Republic

Q fever is zoonotic disease caused by a highly resistent bacterium, Coxiella burnetii. The prevalence of this agent both in animals and in people remains unknown. Domestic ruminants are considered as the main source of the pathogen for a man. The most important route of infection is inhalation of bacteria - contaminated dust. Little is also known about the role of wild ruminants in the disease transmission to humans and other animals. The objective of this study was to determine Q fever in wild and free-living ruminants in the Czech Republic and to asses the health risk for man with regard to his health - protection and food-safety. Between 2008 – 2011, 229 blood samples taken from mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon), bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), sika deer (Cervus nippon), peer David´s deer(Elaphus avidianus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) were tested by indirect ELISA and only one sample from bezoar goat was tested dubious, all others were tested negative. Our results indicate, that currently wild and free-living ruminants probably don´t represent any serious risk for human health in the Czech Republic. The occurrence of Q fever in cattle herds seems to be also sporadic in the Czech Republic. The further ongoing research is though necessary for greater understanding of epidemiological consequences and possible impact on man health and food-safety.CZ; cs; zendulkovad@vfu.c