Detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA in wildlife and ticks in Northern Queensland, Australia

Cooper, A., Stephens, J., Ketheesan, N., and Govan, B. (2013) Detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA in wildlife and ticks in Northern Queensland, Australia. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 13 (1). pp. 12-16.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2011.0853
 
52
2


Abstract

Wild animals and the tick species that feed on them form the natural transmission cycle and reservoir of Coxiella burnetii. The objective of this study was to determine whether C. burnetii was present in the blood of host animals and their ticks in northern Queensland, Australia. Three genomic targets were detected using real-time PCR assays-the Coxiella-specific outer membrane protein coding gene (Com1), the multicopy insertion element (IS1111), and the isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (Icd). Quantification of the single-copy targets identified a range of 1.48x10¹ to 4.10x10³ C. burnetii genome equivalents per microliter in the ticks tested. The detection of Coxiella based on the presence of the genomic targets indicated the occurrence of C. burnetii in both the ticks and whole blood of a variety of native Australian marsupials and confirms these animals are capable of acting as reservoirs of Q fever in northern Queensland.

Item ID: 25036
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1557-7759
Keywords: Coxiella burnetii, Q fever, ticks, zoonoses, wildlife
Date Deposited: 20 Feb 2013 09:17
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0605 Microbiology > 060501 Bacteriology @ 20%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0605 Microbiology > 060502 Infectious Agents @ 40%
07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0707 Veterinary Sciences > 070707 Veterinary Microbiology (excl Virology) @ 40%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 40%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970107 Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences @ 40%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970111 Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences @ 20%
Downloads: Total: 2
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page