SURVEY FOR ANTIBODIES TO COXIELLA BURNETII IN SELECTED POPULATIONS OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN ALBANIA

Coxiella burnetii, as the etiology agent of Q Fever, is a zoonotic pathogen, which can cause abortion in animals. The objective of this work has been to investigate the serological response against Coxiella burnetii in aborted cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The knowledge of the epidemiology and prevalence of zoonotic diseases, like Q Fever in Albania is limited. Therefore sera from aborted animals were used for this investigation where 60 cattle, 32 sheep, 44 goats, 10 pigs were involved in the study. The serological examination was carried out using CFT (Complement Fixation Test). It was found the presence of Coxiella burnetii in 28 (47%) cattle, the maximal titer was 1:160 in 4 sheep, the maximal titer was 1:20 and in 25 (57%) goats, the maximal titer was 1:80. Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii was not found in blood taken from aborted pigs. Data show that coxiella could be involved as cause of abortion in ruminants. Identification of coxiella from organs of infected animals or aborted fetuses, isolation in chicken embryos and cell lines could clear the diagnosis.