Benchmarking Q fever transmission in czech republic and serbia: A one health sub-national population study

Abstract

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, poses a zoonotic threat worldwide. Understanding its epidemiology in diverse settings is crucial for effective control measures. A retrospective observational study compared Q fever epidemiology in the regions of Moravia and Silesia (Czech Republic) and Srem and South Bačka districts of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Serbia), from 2011 to 2018. Here, we analyzed the demographic and spatial patterns of human and animal Q fever retrieved from the human and veterinary official surveillance databases. Animal seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii was broad but consistently high in Czech cattle (range 8.6–60.0%) and was highest in Žďár nad Sázavou, Brno-město, and Znojmo districts. Moravia and Silesia saw an increasing average Q fever seroprevalence in cattle (range 22.9–32.2%), while Srem and South Bačka districts of Vojvodina exhibited annual and seasonal fluctuations with varying seroprevalence in goats (0–14,7%), sheep (0–12,0%), and cattle (0–33,0%). Human Q fever cases were low in Moravia and Silesia (n = 3), in contrast to 76 cases and three outbreaks recorded in Srem district, accounting for approximately one-third of all cases and half of all outbreaks in Vojvodina that occurred in study years. The high seroprevalence of Q fever among cattle in Moravia and Silesia regions was not followed by human cases. In contrast, the endemic maintenance of Q fever among livestock in two districts of Vojvodina, was accompanied by an unfavourable situation in humans. A One Health approach including tailored interventions, such as vaccination of animals and safe farming practices, are essential for addressing Q fever effectively.