Molecular Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Ticks Isolated from Domestic Animals in Slaughterhouses and Farms, Shahr-E-Rey, Tehran, Iran

Pedram  Talaie; Maryam  Tavassoli; Ehsan  Mostafavi; Zakiyeh  Telmadarraiy; Mahdi  Rohani; Saber  Esmaeili; Mohammad Mehdi  Sedaghat

doi:10.18502/jad.v18i2.17538

Pedram Talaie Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Tavassoli Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ehsan Mostafavi Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Zakiyeh Telmadarraiy Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahdi Rohani Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Saber Esmaeili Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v18i2.17538

Keywords: Q fever; Ixodidae; Argasidae; Coxiella burnetii; Real-Time PCR

Abstract

Background: Coxiella burnetii causes Q fever, a zoonotic and vector-borne disease. Ticks serve as vectors for this bacterium. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in ticks in Shahr-e-Rey County, Tehran Province.

Methods: From December 2016 to November 2017, 179 ticks were collected on sheep at animal husbandry facilities and slaughterhouses located in Shahr-e-Rey, Tehran Province. Tick samples were morphologically identified and evaluated for the presence of the C. burnetii IS1111 gene using real-time PCR.

Results: Ticks were classified into four genera: Hyalomma (66.48%), Rhipicepalus (23.47%), Dermacentor (7.26%), and Ornithodoros (2.79%). Furthermore, 35.20% of the ticks were Hyalomma nymphs.

All 77 ticks were pooled by species, and C. burnetii was found in 22.08% (n= 17). Ornithodoros lahorensis was the most prevalent tick infected with C. burnetii.

Conclusion: The distribution of C. burnetii and reports of Q fever from various regions of the country strongly suggest that the monitoring system should give this disease more attention.