Prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burneti (Q fever) in bulk tank milk in England and Wales
- G. A. Paiba, BSc, MA,VetMB, MSc, MRCVS1,1,
- L. E. Green, BVSc, MSc,PhD, MRCVS1,
- G. Lloyd, BSc, MSc, PhD2,
- D. Patel1 and
- K. L. Morgan, BA, VetMB,PhD, MRCVS3
- 1 Division of Animal Health and Husbandry, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU
- 2 Centre for Applied Microbiological Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJG
- 3 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral L64 7DU
Abstract
In the United Kingdom, the infection of people with Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is of significant public health importance and is associated with contact with dairy cattle. An ELISA was developed for the detection of IgG antibodies against C burnetii in bulk tank milk, and in a survey of randomly selected samples from dairy herds in England and Wales, 21 per cent showed serological evidence of C burnetii infection.
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