An epidemiological study on Q fever in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out in cattle from an Apenninic area of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy, in order to assess the prevalence and to analyze the epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii infection. The complement fixation test was performed on 711 animals from 99 herds. The prevalence rate was 13.1% with respect to the herds and 4.4% with respect to the animals. The positive titres ranged from 1:8 to 1:256. Significant differences in positivity were found between animals of different age and breed and between animals from herds of different types of production and management. The infection seems to be linked also with infertility and with replacement from the outside.