Endemicity of Coxiella burnetii infection among people and their livestock in pastoral communities in northern Kenya
Josphat Muema, Nyamai Mutono, Nick Wheelhouse, Joseph Njuguna, Christine Jost, Julius Oyugi, Zipporah Bukania, Harriet Oboge, Brian Ogoti, Anita Makori, María del Pilar Fernández, Sylvia Omulo, Samuel M. Thumbi
Abstract
Background: exposure and risk-factors among people and their livestock are scarce. Objective: This study therefore estimated the seroprevalence of Q-fever and associated risk factors of exposure in people and their livestock. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in pastoralist communities in Marsabit County in northern Kenya. A total of 1,074 women and 225 children were enrolled and provided blood samples for Q-fever testing. Additionally, 1,876 goats, 322 sheep and 189 camels from the same households were sampled. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect individual- and household/herd-level data. Indirect IgG ELISA kits were used to test the samples. Results: 0.724) despite high animal exposure levels, suggesting that Q-fever exposure in humans may be occurring at a scale larger than households. Conclusion: The one health approach used in this study revealed that Q-fever is endemic in this setting. Longitudinal studies of Q-fever burden and risk factors simultaneously assessed in human and animal populations as well as the socioeconomic impacts of the disease and further explore the role of environmental factors in Q-fever epidemiology are required. Such evidence may form the basis for designing Q-fever prevention and control strategies.