Investigation of the Relationship Between Q-Fever Seropositivity and Trace Element Levels in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Query fever (Q fever) which is caused by Coxiella burnetii is a continuing problem as a zoonotic disease in the world. In ruminants, infections are mostly asymptomatic however, abortions and stillbirths may occur during late pregnancy. Trace elements are important for the reproductive performance of ruminants and all have roles in immune function. However, serum trace element levels of Coxiella seropositive infertile and healthy dairy cows have not been investigated yet. The present was aimed to evaluate the trace element status of cattle associated with Coxiella burnetii. For this purpose, 200 dairy cattle with and without clinical problems (infertility, metritis and abortion) were compared. Q fever infection was confirmed with ELISA. Levels of trace elements of samples were analysed utilizing inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer. Serum levels of trace elements of the samples were expressed as μg/mL. In total, 20 of 200 sera were diagnosed to be positive by ELISA. Nine of 20 sera were positive from asymptomatic cattle. Seven of 11 sera were positive from cattle with infertility, while 4 of 11 sera were positive from cattle with abortion. No significant differences were found between trace element levels of ELISA seropositive cattle and asymptomatic seropositive cattle. In conclusion, although statistical analysis of serum trace elements is no significant, our findings clearly show that analysis of trace element levels in cattle may be useful predictors in early treatment and prognosis. Further studies are required to clarify the connection between Coxiella seropositivity, trace elements and clinical symptoms in cattle.

Keywords

• Cattle
• Trace Elements
• Q Fever
• ELISA

Project Number

BEK: 2016-21354

Sütçü Sığırlarda Q hummasının Seropozitifliği ve Eser Elementler Arasındaki İlişkinin Araştırılması

Abstract

Q humması, Coxiella burnetii tarafından oluşturulan ve tüm dünyada devam eden zoonoz bir hastalıktır. Ruminantlarda enfeksiyon genellikle asemptomatik seyretmekte, ancak gebeliğin geç döneminde abort ve ölü doğumlar görülebilmektedir. Eser elementler ruminantlarda üreme performansı ve immün fonksiyon üzerinde önemli rol oynar. Coxiella pozitif olan kısır ve sağlıklı süt ineklerinde serum eser element düzeyleri henüz araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; sığırlarda Coxiella burnetii ile ilişkili serum eser element düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesidir. Bu amaçla klinik olarak hasta olan (infertilite, metritis, abort) ve olmayan süt sığırları karşılaştırıldı. Q ateşi ELISA yöntemiyle teşhis edildi. Eser element seviyelerinin ölçümü, indüktif olarak eşleşmiş plazma-optik emisyon spektrofotometresi kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Serum örneklerinden elde edilen sonuçlar μg/mL cinsinden belirtildi. Toplamda 200 örnekten 20 serum ELISA ile pozitif olarak saptandı. Asemptomatik sığırlardan elde edilen 20 serumun 9’u pozitif olarak tespit edildi. Abort yapan sığırlardan elde edilen 11 serumdan 4’ü pozitifken, infertilitesi olan sığırların7’si pozitif olarak belirlendi. ELISA seropozitif ve asemptomatik seropozitif sığırların serum eser element düzeyleri arasında önemli bir farklılık görülmemiştir. Sonuç olarak; serum eser element seviyelerinde istatistiksel olarak önemli bir fark bulunmamasına rağmen çalışmamızda sığırlarda erken tedavi ve prognozun belirlenmesinde eser element analizlerinin kullanışlı bir yöntem olduğu görüldü. Sığırlarda Coxiella seropozitifliği, eser elementler ve klinik semptomlar arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amacıyla daha fazla çalışma yapılması gerektiği düşüncesindeyiz.

Keywords

• Sığır
• ELISA
• Eser Elementler
• Q Humması

Supporting Institution

İstanbul Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi tarafından desteklenmiştir

Project Number

BEK: 2016-21354

Thanks

Prof. Dr. Bora Barutçu Hocamıza çalışmamıza verdiği desteklerden dolayı teşekkür ediyoruz.

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