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Application of immunofluorescence assay and nested polymerase chain reaction for query fever diagnosis in animal handlers of Puducherry, South India, and phylogenetic analysis based on IS1111 repetitive gene element.

ABSTRACT: Background and Aim:Diagnosis of query fever (QF) is mostly done on the basis of serological/molecular tests, due to the stringent requirement of biosafety level-3 containment facilities for isolating Coxiella burnetii in culture. QF is an important zoonosis and is considered to be an occupational hazard to livestock handlers. This report describes our study on the serological as well as molecular evidence of QF in animal handlers from Puducherry and surrounding Tamil Nadu, from where, to the best of our knowledge, no such reports are available so far. Materials and Methods:Seventy-five animal handlers were recruited, comprising veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, butchers, and animal attendants of various government veterinary clinics from Puducherry and surrounding areas of Tamil Nadu state. QF serology was performed to identify Phase I and Phase II immunoglobulin G antibodies to C. burnetii. Nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) was carried out to detect C. burnetii DNA in buffy coat samples by targeting IS1111 gene element. N-PCR-positive samples were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA software version 10.0. Results:A total of 21 animal handlers (28.1%) were positive for either serology or PCR. PCR alone was positive in 10 (13.4%), only serology was positive in 8 (10.7%), and both serology and PCR were positive in three samples (4.0%). GenBank accession numbers were obtained for 13 N-PCR-positive samples (MG548608-MG548620). Six of our study sequences showed close similarity with the reference isolates from Bengaluru, Colombia, Brazil, France, and Iran. Conclusion:A significant percentage of QF positivity in animal handlers of this part of South India, Puducherry, warrants a prospective study with follow-up of a large number of this occupational group.

SUBMITTER: Pradeep J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6925034 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Application of immunofluorescence assay and nested polymerase chain reaction for query fever diagnosis in animal handlers of Puducherry, South India, and phylogenetic analysis based on IS1111 repetitive gene element.

Pradeep Jothimani J Stephen Selvaraj S Sangeetha Balakrishnan B Antony Prabakar Xavier PX Amsaveni S S Pooja Pratheesh P

Veterinary world 20191113 11

<h4>Background and aim</h4>Diagnosis of query fever (QF) is mostly done on the basis of serological/molecular tests, due to the stringent requirement of biosafety level-3 containment facilities for isolating <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in culture. QF is an important zoonosis and is considered to be an occupational hazard to livestock handlers. This report describes our study on the serological as well as molecular evidence of QF in animal handlers from Puducherry and surrounding Tamil Nadu, from wh ...[more]

PMID: 32009755

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Project description:The exposure to Brucella species is an occupational hazard for veterinary personnel in India. In our previous study, paraveterinarians and animal handlers were found to be at higher risk of being seropositive. In the present study, we further investigate comparative exposure risk to brucellosis amongst the veterinary professionals, identify risk factors, and evaluate the perceptions and practices towards using adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) while attending high risk veterinary interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst veterinary personnel in the Punjab state of India. Logistic and negative binomial regression models were constructed to interpret the influence of categorical and numerical variables on prevalence of brucellosis and the adequacy of PPE use, respectively. Compared to veterinarians, animal handlers were less likely to consider veterinary practice in sheep and goats (odds ratio [OR] 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2-0.7) or assisting in obstetric interventions (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.8) as potential exposures. They were less aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease in humans (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.14) and of the availability of vaccines for cattle (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.3) than the veterinarians, and were least likely of the three groups to recommend vaccination of cattle against brucellosis to animal owners (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.3). Compared to veterinarians, they were also less likely to consider zoonotic risk (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8) or better efficiency (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.05-0.4) as enablers of PPE use during veterinary procedures. Of the three occupational groups, animal handlers were also less likely to use adequate PPE during high-risk veterinary exposures, although they were found to have handled the highest number of cases of abortion. The average use of adequate PPE during high-risk interventions in one month preceding this study was lowest for animal handlers. Veterinary personnel with a higher rate of PPE use during high-risk veterinary interventions were likely to obtain information on brucellosis from government sources (p = 0.06) and felt that PPE use enhanced their professional efficiency (Incidence rate ratio [IRR] 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-8.1) compared to those who were less likely to use adequate PPE. We recommend concerted efforts to increase awareness amongst veterinary personnel, particularly amongst animal handlers, regarding brucellosis and the importance of biosecurity measures in veterinary practice. Designing training courses on the importance of PPE use along with formulation of biosecurity guidelines at local levels could help reduce the prevalence of the disease in veterinary personnel.

Dataset Information

Application of immunofluorescence assay and nested polymerase chain reaction for query fever diagnosis in animal handlers of Puducherry, South India, and phylogenetic analysis based on IS1111 repetitive gene element.

Publications

Application of immunofluorescence assay and nested polymerase chain reaction for query fever diagnosis in animal handlers of Puducherry, South India, and phylogenetic analysis based on IS1111 repetitive gene element.

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