Ontario research has found that Q-Fever is present on sheep and goat farms in Ontario. Q-Fever is a reportable disease in humans in Ontario. More information about Q-Fever can be found on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food website in the form of two factsheets. The first is an explanation of the basics of Q-Fever.
The second factsheet contains common questions and answers about Q-Fever.
The following is a brief summary of the Ontario Q-Fever research project handed out at the Small Ruminant Research Day on January 31, 2013.
SEROPREVALENCE OF Q FEVER (COXIELLA BURNETII) AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ONTARIO SHEEP FLOCKS, GOAT HERDS AND THEIR FARM WORKERS
RESEARCHERS AND AFFILIATIONS
Shannon Meadows(1), Paula Menzies(1), Andria Jones Bitton(1), Scott McEwen(1), Jocelyn Jansen(2), Catherine Filejski(3), Samir Patel(4)
(1)Department Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Canada; (2)Veterinary Science and Policy, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food & Rural Affairs, Canada; (3)Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care, Canada (4)Public Health Ontario, Canada
Start Date: May 2010 End Date: June 2013
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
To determine the prevalence and risk factors of C. burnetii exposure among small ruminants and their farm workers in Ontario.
Study Design: This study used random sampling to select 148 small ruminant farms in Ontario, and on those farms collected blood from 35 random ewes or does that had given birth in the last year. All farm workers in contact with the animals were invited to provide a blood sample Producers completed a questionnaire on potential flock demographic and management factors.
Findings: The proportion of sheep and goats testing positive was 17.2% (347/2016) (sheep), and 32.5% (714/2195) (goat). The proportion of sheep flocks and goat herds with one or more animal testing positive is 42% (21/50) (meat sheep); 63.6% (14/22) (dairy sheep); 44.1% (15/34) (meat goat); and 78.6% (33/42) (dairy goat). The proportion of farm workers who had evidence of past infection with C. burnetii was 67.4% (116/172). For sheep, after accounting for variations between farms, the following were risk factors independently associated with positive sheep (p<0.05); dairy (compared to meat), female flock size, loaning animals to farms that return, and frequently removing birthing materials and adding bedding after lambing (likely in response to past issues). For goats, again after accounting for variations between farms, the following risk factors were independently associated with positive goats (p<0.05); dairy (compared to meat) female herd size, and male herd size, while kidding outdoors, having doelings exposed to kidding areas and disinfecting kidding areas was associated with negative goats. Full models will be constructed to describe how risk factors interact for sheep, goats and farm workers.
Conclusions: Exposure to C. burnetii among Ontario sheep, goats and their farm workers was common indicating that this is an important infection in Ontario sheep and goats and the people who care for them. The final models will allow a better understanding of the risk factors and protective measures associated with C. burnetii exposure, and will provided support for the development of guidelines to help reduce the risk of C. burnetii exposure in sheep, goats and farm workers in Ontario.
Funded By: Animal Health Strategic Investment Fund, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Public Health Ontario, NSERC and Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency
