Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Goats from Central and Western Thailand: Implications for Zoonotic Disease Surveillance and Control

Abstract

Goats are important reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever in humans. Monitoring infection in goats is therefore essential for effective human disease prevention. However, epidemiological data on C. burnetii infection in Thai goats remain limited, particularly in the central and western regions, where goat farming has expanded. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection in goats raised in these two regions. A total of 947 serum samples from 101 herds were collected and tested using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Individual- and herd-level seroprevalence were calculated. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to compare infection proportions between regions (central vs. western) and herd types (meat vs. dairy), with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Overall, individual- and herd-level seroprevalence were 22.39% and 58.42%, respectively. Individual seroprevalence in the central and western regions was 25.16% and 19.71%, while herd-level seroprevalence was 71.15% and 44.90%, respectively. The proportions of infection at both levels were significantly higher in the central region (p = 0.044 and p = 0.007). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between meat and dairy herds: individual-level seroprevalence was 22.81% and 25.25% (p = 0.586), and herd-level seroprevalence was 56.98% and 60.00% (p = 0.855), respectively. These findings highlighted the urgent need to strengthen control measures for C. burnetii infection in goats in central and western Thailand to protect human, animal, and environmental health.

Affiliated Institutions

• Department of Livestock Development TH
• Kasetsart University TH
• Ministry of Public Health TH
• Department of Medical Sciences TH

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