Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ELINE ALMEIDA RODRIGUES DE SOUZA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ELINE ALMEIDA RODRIGUES DE SOUZA
DATE: 19/05/2022
TIME: 08:30
LOCAL: Plataforma on-line
TITLE:

Epidemiological investigation and risk factors for infection by Coxiella burnetii, agent of Q fever, in a predisposing population and animals from the semi-arid region of the Pernambuco

KEY WORDS:

Zoonosis, neglected disease, goat, sheep, Northeast

PAGES: 60
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUBÁREA: Medicina Veterinária Preventiva
SPECIALTY: Saúde Animal (Programas Sanitários)
SUMMARY:

Q fever is a zoonosis known worldwide, caused by a Gram-negative γ-proteobacterium, Coxiella burnetii, which has a high transmissibility and can spread over long distances by wind, being the inhalation of contaminated aerosolized dust its main route of infection. Ingestion of unpasteurized milk or cheese is considered an additional risk, and ticks may contribute to the transmission of C. burnetii between wild and domestic animals. Goats, sheep and cattle are considered the main sources of human infection, as they can release a high bacterial load into the environment through vaginal secretions, birth products, urine, faeces, semen and milk. The disease can occur asymptomatically, however, when present, the symptoms occur nonspecifically in both humans and animals, requiring knowledge of its epidemiology, especially in areas where goat and sheep farming is of great importance for the economy local, as in the Northeast of Brazil, the region responsible for a large part of the creation of these animals. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the presence of C. burnetii infection in samples of humans susceptible to the disease, small ruminants and ticks, in an area considered a risk factor located in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil. Thus, serology was performed using the Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) with serum samples from goats, sheep and humans, and detection of C. burnetii DNA was performed by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in blood samples, milk, vaginal swab and faeces. No ticks were found on the animals. Samples with positive DNA for C. burnetii were submitted to the sequencing of this genetic material and phylogenetic analysis. First, five farms were visited, where were observed antibodies anti-C. burnetii in 4.8% (7/145) of the goats and 1.5% (1/66) of the sheep studied. The presence of DNA was observed in 0.7% (1/134) of goat milk samples. Of the serum samples from susceptible humans evaluated, 4.5% (3/66) were seroreactive for C. burnetii. The titers ranged between 64 and 4,096 in animals, and between 128 and 256 in humans. Subsequently, the farm that was more positive for C. burnetii was evaluated, and the presence of C. burnetii DNA was found in 18.9% (7/37) of blood samples, in 7.7% (2/26) of milk samples and in 7.7% (2/26) of vaginal swab samples, all from goats. The PCR positive samples were submitted to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, resulting in the identification of the C. burnetii strain in vaginal swab with similarity between 97.4-99.1% of other strains found in Brazil. No risk factors related to C. burnetii infection were found. Finally, it was concluded that the circulation of the bacteria is present in the region, suggesting that health professionals should insert Q fever as a differential diagnosis for an adequate treatment, and also alert domestic ruminant producers about preventive measures on rural farms.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - MARCELO BAHIA LABRUNA
Interna - 384931 - JAQUELINE BIANQUE DE OLIVEIRA
Presidente - 195.204.298-40 - MAURICIO CLAUDIO HORTA - UNIVASF