Molecular Detection and Characterization of Coxiella burnetii and Associated Risk Factors in Camels in Southern Punjab Pakistan | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences | ||
| Volume 56, Issue 13, December 2025, Pages 941-949 PDF (535.91 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.407875.2999 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Nargis Ambreen1; Syed Saleem Ahmad* 1; Aneela Zameer Durrani1; Amir Ghafoor Bajwa2 | ||
| 1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. | ||
| 2University Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Camels are particularly vulnerable to Coxiellosis in countries with high camel population densities, where it remains one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases. This study, the first of its kind in Pakistan, aims to assess the incidence of Coxiellosis, characterize and analyze Coxiella burnetii isolates from camel populations, and investigate co-infection with other vector-borne haemoparasites, along with associated risk factors. A total of 300 clinically suspicious camels, mostly infested with ticks, were selected for blood sampling using a convenience sampling technique. DNA extracted from camel blood and tick samples was subsequently subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The incidence of C. burnetii in camel blood and tick samples in District Bhakkar was 18% and 30.94%, respectively, while in District Bahawalpur it was 21.33% and 34.51%. Phylogenetic analysis of Coxiella burnetii isolates from camels revealed similarities to isolates from aborted sheep fetuses in India and goats in Germany. Co-infections with Trypanosoma, Anaplasma, Theileria, and Babesia spp. were detected in District Bhakkar at rates of 20%, 10%, 2.66%, and 2%, respectively. Similarly, in District Bahawalpur, co-infection rates with Trypanosoma, Anaplasma, Theileria, and Babesia spp. were 24%, 12%, 4%, and 3.3%, respectively. Risk factor analysis indicated that age, sex, history of abortion, body condition and housing type were significant contributors to the occurrence of the disease. The outcomes of current study will help in designing effective control strategies against C. burnetii infection in camels of Pakistan. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Coxiella burnetii; Coinfection; Phylogenetic analysis; Risk factors | ||
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