Development of harmonised schemes for the monitoring and reporting of Q-fever in animals in the European Union

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a well-known zoonosis. The clinical presentation of Q fever is non-specific in most animals, with the exception of ruminants where Q fever is responsible for late abortion and stillbirths. Q fever has only recently been included in the Community Summary Reports on Zoonoses. Reporting from the European Union Member States is not harmonised and the level of information available varies considerably. Therefore, a project on the development of harmonised schemes for the monitoring and reporting of Q fever in animals in the European Union was launched. More than 30 different animal species susceptible to Q fever have been recorded in Europe. However, domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) represent the source most often associated to human outbreaks. Thus, it is proposed to focus monitoring schemes on domestic ruminants. A standardised definition is suggested for a herd/flock considered as clinically affected with Q fever. This includes the occurrence of serial abortions, confirmation of the presence of C. burnetii by Polymerase Chain Reaction and positive serology by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. It is further proposed that the monitoring of Q fever should mainly rely on a passive system aiming at the identification of clinically affected herds and flocks and diagnostic methods should include a combination of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Polymerase Chain Reactions. Guidelines for the interpretation of the test results are presented for cattle and small ruminants. Active monitoring schemes may be applied in countries that need to evaluate Q fever prevalence in their animal populations when the disease frequency in humans or animals is suspected to be high. Active monitoring can involve either bulk tank milk testing or sero-surveys. Harmonised reporting forms are suggested for submitting the information at Community level.