Dados do Trabalho

Título

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in police officers and working dogs in Brazil: case report and One Health implications

Objetivos(s)

Although Coxiella burnetii infection has been investigated in dogs, their role on human transmission remains to be fully established, particularly in close and daily human-dog contact settings such as in Police K-9 Units. Accordingly, the study herein has aimed to assess anti-C. burnetii antibodies in clinically healthy police officers and working dogs at the State Special Operations Battalion, Paraná, southern Brazil.

Relato do Caso

In overall, 1/18 (5.5%) police officer tested by in-house IFA and 9/30 (30.0%; CI 95% 16.66-47.88) dogs tested by a commercial IFA Kit were seropositive to anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies. This is the highest prevalence of Q fever seropositivity in military dogs worldwide to date. Despite the low sampling, a statistical association was found between seropositivity and female dogs (p=0.0492). Further studies with higher samplings should be conducted to fully establish the Q Fever prevalence in other Brazilian K-9 Units.

Conclusão

In summary, the study herein has been the first concomitant serosurvey of police officers and working dogs and should be considered a warning for cross exposure and transmission of Coxiella burnetii among Police K-9 Units in Brazil and worldwide.