Available control measures for Q fever in sheep

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Gram-negative bacteria, Coxiella burnetii. This antropozoonosis is characterized by a wide spectrum of hosts and vectors. Primary role of domestic animals as reservoirs of human infections emphasizes the accurate prompt detection of Q fever in domestic animals. This microbe can survive for months and even years in dust or soil. Sanitation of endemic foci of Q fever is practically pretty close to impossible because of the high resistance of the causative agent, small infectious dose and various epidemiologies. Within the group of zooantroponoses, Q fever takes a leading position in the region of Vojvodina. This is why Q-fever is considered a specific problem of this province. Control programs against Q fever in sheep and cattle, most frequently recommend serological examination and vaccination of animals. In animals, the most effective vaccines are those composed of inactivated whole phase I bacteria. Bacterial shedding in placental tissue and milk was reduced in experimental infection or in natural C.burnetii infection of sheep and cows vaccinated by phase I vaccines. One of the recommended measures is excluding positive reactors from the flock followed by continuous monitoring and separation of seropositive animals. Milk from seropositive cows must be pasteurized. The aim of the vaccination after lambing season, is to prevent new infections until next lambing of young animals, which were not pregnant. Well-timed sequential vaccination before pregnancy reduces the risk of C. burnetii infection, highly prevents the abortions decreases the shedding rate of C. burnetii after the abortion. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31084]