Molecular detection of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> infection (Q fever) in livestock in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia

The study aims to investigate the prevalence of Q fever in livestock and ticks in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, by molecular methods. Using DNA obtained from (40) blood samples, (60) vaginal swabs and ticks (120) samples. Real-time PCR was used to detect the <i>IS1111</i> insertion sequence of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in aborted animals. Among 40 blood samples only one sample of the camel was found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 2.5 %. The highest prevalence (10 %) was recorded in AL-Laith in one camel blood sample out of 10 samples examined. Of 60 vaginal swabs examined for <i>C. burnetii</i> DNA, four samples were found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 6.6 %. The highest prevalence (10 %) was recorded in Makkah in two camel vaginal swabs out of 20 samples, followed by Jeddah and AL-Laith with a prevalence of (5.6 %) by detection of one sample positive out of 18 samples on each of them, while vaginal swabs from AL-Kamil were negative. Three types of ticks were identified <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i>, <i>Hyalomma anatolicum,</i> and <i>Hyalomma excavatum. H. dromedarii</i> tick is the most common in aborted camels with a prevalence (6.7 %) in Makkah followed by Jeddah (5 %). The findings of this study revealed that <i>C. burnetii</i> infection is prevalent in agricultural animals especially camels and ticks maintained at livestock farms in Makkah Province. However, these animals and ticks may pass on <i>C. burnetii</i> infections to nearby people and other animals in the study area.