or stillbirth due to Coxiella burnetti have been
reported in Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger),
Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), greater kudu
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and Cuvier’s gazelles
(Gazella cuvieri). A 2016 molecular survey of Coxiella
burnetti in wildlife and their ticks in Kenya, recovered
Coxiella burnetti DNA from ticks collected from Buffalo
(Syncerus caffer) and Zebra (Equus quagga). While in
Cameroon an association was demonstrated between
sero-positivity in cattle and those seen grazing with
Buffalo. In January 2018 two cases of abortion/
stillbirth in white rhino (Ceratotherium simun)
originating from South Africa, that were seropositive
for Coxiella burnetti on arrival, were reported on the
Wildlife VetNet. Therefore, infected wildlife may be
important in infecting domestic animals, particularly
where the source of infection is unknown.
The emergence of the wildlife farming industry and
introduction of intensification production systems, in
an attempt to protect certain critically endangered
species, has facilitated increase contact between
African wildlife, domestic species and humans,
resulting in the potential for increased disease
transmission between them.
Clinical signs.
Infection in ruminants is usually subclinical but it can
cause anorexia and late abortion. When infection is
subclinical, animals shed much lower bacterial loads
of organisms than when abortion occurs. During the
acute phase of subclinical infections, the organism has
been traced to the blood, lungs, spleen and liver, with
shedding via feces, urine and milk. As the infection
becomes chronic these bacteria colonize the female
uterus and mammary glands, becoming the primary
site of chronic infection and shedding. Shedding
from these cronically infected females occurrs mainly
during parturition and abortion. Infections in animals
are mostly associated with various reproductive
problems including infertility, stillbirths, abortions,
delivery of weak offspring, postpartum metritis and
necrotizing placentitis.
placenta with copious off-white exudate adherent to
intercotyledonary and in many instances cotyledonary
zones.
In many instances pathology is confined to the
placenta with no fetal lesions present. Lesions in the
aborted fetus, if present, are usually non-specific.
Large numbers of Coxiella are usually present in
placental lesions while bacteria and frequently not
Figure 1: note the thickened leathery appearance of the placenta with
surface adherent creamy exudate on the intercotyledonary areas and
cotyledons (arrows)
Figure 2: close are you to highlight the exudate on the intercotyledonary
and cotyledonary placenta
Pathology.
The placental pathology induced by Coxiella burnetti
is unique and characterized by a thickened, leathery
2018
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