Sero-Prevalence Of And Risk Factors For Q–Fever In Dairy And Slaughterhouse Cattle Of Jimma Town, South Western Ethiopia

Background Q-fever is a zoonotic disease, caused by the Gram negative bacterium C. burnetii, which imparts significant socio-economic burden due to production and reproductive loss (abortion, stillbirth, and infertility) in ruminants and well as debilitating clinical disease in human populations. While sheep and goats are considered the primary reservoirs of infection to humans, infection can also result from exposure to cattle. Recent studies indicate that in Ethiopia Q-ever is a disease of growing public health interest. The top cattle producing region in Ethiopia is the Oromia region and Jimma is the zone that ranks first in the population of cattle within Oromia. While in Jimma zone livestock is the main provider of people’s livelihoods and an important role in nutrition (through raw milk and meat consumption) to date there is no available report on sero-prevalence of Q-fever in cattle. This is particularly important due to the low dairy farm biosecurity in Jimma town. This study aimed to evaluate the potential risk for public health from cattle production; a specific objective of this study included the estimation of the sero-prevalence of C. burnetii infection and its potential risk factors in dairy cattle and cattle for slaughter in Jimma Town. Results The sero-prevalence of C. burnetii in cattle present at dairy farms was significantly lower compared to cattle presented at slaughterhouse [6.17% (95% CI: 3.41–10.13) and 11.79% (95% CI: 7.63–17.17), respectively; (P = 0.04)]. As the age of dairy cattle increase by one year, they were 1.51 more likely to be positive of C. burnetii [OR = 1.51 (95%CI: 1.30, 1.75; (P = 0.000)]. Cattle managed in semi-intensive production systems were 8.08 more likely to be C. burnetii sero-positive compared to intensively managed dairy cattle [OR = 8.08 (95%CI: 1.03, 63.68); P = 0.047]. Dairy cattle with access to nuisance animals like dogs, cats and mice were 5.65 more likely to be C. burnetii seropositive compared to dairy cattle without access to these animals. On the other hand, dairy cattle that have no tick infestation are 93% less likely to be seropositive for C. burnetii [OR = 0.07 (95%CI: 0.01, 0.74); P = 0.027]. Concerning farm-level data, farms of larger herd sizes were 1.03 more likely to be C. burnetii sero-positive than small herd farms [OR = 1.03 (95%CI: 0.99, 1.06)]. The result from slaughterhouse indicates that as the age of cattle increase by one year their chance of being C. burnetii sero-positive increases by 2.27 [OR = 2.27 (95%CI: 1.93, 2.68); p = 0.000]. Conclusion Considering its zoonotic and economic burden the sero-prevalence of Q-fever recorded in this study is of eminent public health concern. Based on modifiable risk factors identified in this study dairy farm Q-fever management plans would benefit from health education and awareness campaigns for abattoir workers and dairy farm workers. Dairy farm Q-fever management plans should also contemplate improved dairy herd biosecurity; such as biosecurity practices to avoid cattle tick infestation, keeping different livestock species segregated and avoiding mixing of herd with others with unknown health status.