Sero-epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii in livestock and humans in Isiolo county Kenya

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research institute
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Nairobi
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Livestock Research Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationZoonotic Disease Unit, Kenya
cg.contributor.affiliationFreie Universität Berlin
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Embu
cg.contributor.donorUnited States Defense Threat Reduction Agency
cg.coverage.countryKenya
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2KE
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierJames Akoko: 0000-0001-5730-4505
cg.creator.identifierAthman Mwatondo: 0000-0002-3180-7013
cg.creator.identifierMathew Muturi: 0000-0003-2110-8099
cg.creator.identifierHussein Abkallo: 0000-0002-5594-4418
cg.creator.identifierRichard Nyamota: 0000-0002-9569-1953
cg.creator.identifierBernard Bett: 0000-0001-9376-2941
cg.howPublishedFormally Published
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013557
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn1935-2735
cg.issue10
cg.journalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
cg.numbere0013557
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
cg.speciesCoxiella burnetii
cg.subject.ilriANIMAL HEALTH
cg.subject.ilriEPIDEMIOLOGY
cg.subject.ilriHUMAN HEALTH
cg.subject.ilriLIVESTOCK
cg.subject.ilriZOONOTIC DISEASES
cg.subject.impactAreaNutrition, health and food security
cg.subject.sdgSDG 3 - Good health and well-being
cg.volume19
dc.contributor.authorMutisya, W.M.
dc.contributor.authorAkoko, James M.
dc.contributor.authorMwatondo, Athman
dc.contributor.authorMuturi, Mathew
dc.contributor.authorNthiwa, D.
dc.contributor.authorAbkallo, Hussein
dc.contributor.authorNyamota, Richard
dc.contributor.authorWachira, T.
dc.contributor.authorGathura, P.
dc.contributor.authorBett, Bernard K.
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-20T04:58:07Z
dc.date.available2025-10-20T04:58:07Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/177213
dc.titleSero-epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii in livestock and humans in Isiolo county Kenyaen
dcterms.abstractBackground: <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, the causative agent of Q fever, is a globally distributed pathogen with significant zoonotic and economic impacts, particularly in regions where humans and livestock interact closely. Although endemic in many countries, including Kenya, comprehensive epidemiological data on the pathogen are limited. To address this gap, we conducted a linked human and livestock populations study in Garbatulla, Isiolo County to assess seroprevalence and identify potential predictors of <i>C. burnetii</i> exposure. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design with multistage sampling. Blood and serum samples were collected from 2,157 livestock and 683 humans that were recruited from 242 households. Additional data on herd/household and subject characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the serum samples for antibodies against <i>C. burnetii</i>. Univariable and multivariable analyses identified potential predictors of exposure in both livestock and humans. Results: The overall seroprevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> was 47.9% (95% CI: 45.7%-50.1%) in livestock and 44.7% (95% CI: 40.9%-48.5%) in humans. In livestock, significant variation in seroprevalence was found by species (p < 0.001). Goats were found to have significantly higher odds of being exposed to <i>C. burnetii</i> compared to cattle, sheep and camels. Both weaners and young animals had significantly lower odds of exposure compared to adults. In humans, the odds of <i>C. burnetii</i> exposure were lower among females compared to males. Herds seropositivity was also an important predictor of humans’ exposure to <i>C. burnetii</i>. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of high seroprevalence of <i>C. burnetii</i> in both livestock and humans, highlighting the need for active surveillance programs targeting both populations. These programs should focus on identifying active shedding and implementing targeted control measures to mitigate the public health risks associated with <i>C. burnetii</i>.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceAcademics
dcterms.audienceScientists
dcterms.available2025-10-17
dcterms.bibliographicCitationMutisya, W.M., Akoko, J.M., Mwatondo, A., Muturi, M., Nthiwa, D., Abkallo, H.M., Nyamota, R., Wachira, T., Gathura, P. and Bett, B. 2025. Sero-epidemiology of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in livestock and humans in Isiolo county Kenya. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 19(10): e0013557.
dcterms.issued2025-10-17
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherPublic Library of Science
dcterms.subjectanimal health
dcterms.subjectepidemiology
dcterms.subjecthealth
dcterms.subjectlivestock
dcterms.subjectq fever
dcterms.subjectzoonoses
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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