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Background <p>Q fever, caused by <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, remains a neglected zoonosis in Kazakhstan, with limited epidemiological data available. This study assessed the occurrence, spatial distribution, and risk factors of Q fever nationwide.</p> Results <p>Between 2019 and 2024, 1,314 cattle and 1,689 small ruminants were sampled from 115 to 149 villages/cities, respectively, and 3,073 ticks were collected from 39 districts across Kazakhstan. Blood serum samples were screened for anti-<i>C. burnetii</i> antibodies by ELISA, while DNA from sheep milk and ticks was analyzed by qPCR, followed by partial sequencing of the 16&#xa0;S rRNA and <i>IS1111</i> genes. Multiple spacer sequence typing was performed on selected <i>C. burnetii</i> - positive samples. Risk factors were evaluated in a GEE model, and spatial risk maps were generated via inverse distance weighting interpolation.</p> <p>The apparent individual seroprevalence was significantly higher in small ruminants (30.6%; 95% CI: 28.4 - 32.9) than in cattle (6.6%; 95% CI: 5.3 - 8.1; p &lt; 0.0001). Herd-level prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI: 8.4 – 17.6) in cattle and 60.2% (95% CI: 52.5 - 67.6; p &lt; 0.0001) in small ruminants. Pavlodar oblast exhibited the highest individual and herd-level seroprevalence in both species, whereas low seroprevalence (≤ 11%) was observed in Atyrau, Mangystau, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan oblasts. Herd size was identified as a significant risk factor in both cattle and small ruminants.<i> Coxiella burnetii </i>DNA was detected in three of 77 (4%; 95% CI: 0.8 - 10.9) tested sheep milk samples. Overall, 7.6% of ticks (234/3,073; 95% CI: 6.7 - 8.6) tested positive for <i>Coxiella</i> spp., primarily <i>H. scupense</i> and <i>D. niveus</i>, likely including non-pathogenic endosymbionts. Thirteen samples were successfully sequenced and showed 99.7%-100% nucleotide identity in the <i>IS1111</i> gene with reference <i>C. burnetii </i>isolates. The allele profile identified in the present study for the loci Cox2 - Cox5 - Cox18 was 3-8-15.</p> Conclusion <p>Q fever should be regarded as a potentially underrecognized and underreported infection in Kazakhstan. The exceptionally high prevalence observed in Pavlodar oblast in small ruminants and cattle underscores the urgent need to initiate monitoring of Q fever in the human population.</p>

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Q fever in Kazakhstan: seroepidemiology, molecular evidence, and spatial distribution across livestock and ticks

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月28日

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  • Yuliya V. Perfilyeva,
  • Akzhigit S. Mashzhan,
  • Moldir M. Kuatbek,
  • Yekaterina O. Ostapchuk,
  • Zhaniya M. Dosmagambet,
  • Andrey V. Zhigailov,
  • Artyom V. Kuligin,
  • Akerke O. Bissenbay,
  • Saltanat A. Kuatbekova,
  • Sofiya A. Kan,
  • Anzhelika V. Lushova,
  • Nurshat Abdolla,
  • Anna S. Nizkorodova,
  • Zhanna Zh. Shapiyeva,
  • Zaure Z. Sayakova,
  • Anastassiya V. Perfilyeva,
  • Zhanna A. Berdygulova,
  • Elina R. Maltseva,
  • Yuriy A. Skiba,
  • Andrey M. Dmitrovskiy

摘要

Background

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, remains a neglected zoonosis in Kazakhstan, with limited epidemiological data available. This study assessed the occurrence, spatial distribution, and risk factors of Q fever nationwide.

Results

Between 2019 and 2024, 1,314 cattle and 1,689 small ruminants were sampled from 115 to 149 villages/cities, respectively, and 3,073 ticks were collected from 39 districts across Kazakhstan. Blood serum samples were screened for anti-C. burnetii antibodies by ELISA, while DNA from sheep milk and ticks was analyzed by qPCR, followed by partial sequencing of the 16 S rRNA and IS1111 genes. Multiple spacer sequence typing was performed on selected C. burnetii - positive samples. Risk factors were evaluated in a GEE model, and spatial risk maps were generated via inverse distance weighting interpolation.

The apparent individual seroprevalence was significantly higher in small ruminants (30.6%; 95% CI: 28.4 - 32.9) than in cattle (6.6%; 95% CI: 5.3 - 8.1; p < 0.0001). Herd-level prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI: 8.4 – 17.6) in cattle and 60.2% (95% CI: 52.5 - 67.6; p < 0.0001) in small ruminants. Pavlodar oblast exhibited the highest individual and herd-level seroprevalence in both species, whereas low seroprevalence (≤ 11%) was observed in Atyrau, Mangystau, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan oblasts. Herd size was identified as a significant risk factor in both cattle and small ruminants. Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in three of 77 (4%; 95% CI: 0.8 - 10.9) tested sheep milk samples. Overall, 7.6% of ticks (234/3,073; 95% CI: 6.7 - 8.6) tested positive for Coxiella spp., primarily H. scupense and D. niveus, likely including non-pathogenic endosymbionts. Thirteen samples were successfully sequenced and showed 99.7%-100% nucleotide identity in the IS1111 gene with reference C. burnetii isolates. The allele profile identified in the present study for the loci Cox2 - Cox5 - Cox18 was 3-8-15.

Conclusion

Q fever should be regarded as a potentially underrecognized and underreported infection in Kazakhstan. The exceptionally high prevalence observed in Pavlodar oblast in small ruminants and cattle underscores the urgent need to initiate monitoring of Q fever in the human population.