• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.19-30
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• 1994

Regarding to Q fever which is one of the most important zoonoses in Food (Milk) Hygiene and in Environmental Public Health, a sero-epidemiological study was carried out to detect the complement fixation antibodies to Coxiella burnetii Nine Mile strain phase II antigen among the milking cows in Kyunggi Province. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The overall prevalence of the CF antibodies to Q fever among 989 milking cows of 75 dairy farms in Kyunggi Province was revealed as high as 58.7% by the farms and 27.8% by the individual cows with higher prevalence in Kyunggi Central and Kyunggi East regions than any other regions in the Province. 2. Anticomplementary reactions were appeared as 7.5% (74/989) and it ranged from 1.0% to 16.0% according to the regions investigated. 3. In the titration of the positively reacted sera, the figures of 16.7%, 37.5%, 29.8%, 9.5%, 2.9% and 3.6% at the serum dilutions of 1: 10, 1: 20, 1: 40, 1: 80, 1: 160 and higher than 1: 160, respectively. 4. It was recognized that the relatively higher cumulated frequency distribution of the CF antibodies was shown in the sera collected from the regions with higher prevalence of Q fever. 5. There was a high correlation between the prevalence of Q fever CF antibodies and the age which is usually equivalent to one year older than the calving history of the milking cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2019

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) in bulk-tank milk and cattle in Daegu area was analyzed from 2017 to 2018 by ELISA. The prevalence of antibodies in collected bulk-tank milk from 12 dairy cattle farms was 41.7% (10/24) and the seroprevalence of 249 cows reared in the area of Daegu was 3.2% (8/249) By age, the seroprevalence was 1.9% (2/105) in less than 2 years of age, 4.2% (5/119) between 3 and 5 years of age and 4.0% (1/25) in more than 6 years of age. By breed, the seroprevalence of the Hanwoo cattle was 1.2% (2/162) and the seroprevalence of the dairy cattle was 6.9% (6/87). The result suggested that seroprevalence of C. burnetii was relatively high in both bulk-tank milk samples and dairy cattle than the Hanwoo cattle. Based on these data, it is necessary to keep monitoring the prevalence of Q fever in Daegu area.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.504-507
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• 2015

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular rickettsial organism and the causative agent of Query fever, a zoonosis that occurs worldwide. In Korea, C. burnetii infection had occurred in humans and animals. However, the studies were only conducted in geographically limited area for detection of C. burnetii. The objective of this study was to detect C. burnetii in Korean native cattle and dairy cattle nationwide by real-time PCR. The total of 807 blood samples from 622 Korean native cattle and 185 dairy cows, 170 individual milk samples of dairy cows, and 348 bulk tank milk samples of dairy herds were collected nationwide. From blood samples, C. burnetii was detected in 17 (2.7%) out of 622 Korean native cattle and 2 (1.1%) of 185 dairy cows. From milk samples, C. burnetii was detected in 27 (15.9%) out of 170 individual milk samples of dairy cows. And C. burnetii was detected in 84 (24.1%) of 348 bulk tank milk samples. In conclusion, this study revealed that the detection rates are considerably high in cattle and the infection of C. burnetii has been continuously occurring in cattle of Korea. In order to prevent the hazards of a zoonosis Q-fever that occur both humans and domestic animals, further studies are needed to clarify the epidemiology of Q-fever of domestic animals and humans in Korea.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.515-525
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• 2011

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2013

This study was done to determine the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cattle with reproductive disorders reared in eastern Gyeongbuk province. A total of 146 cattle blood samples from 83 farms in eastern Gyeongbuk province were collected in 2011~2012. Among them, 17 (11.6%) samples from 11 (13.3%) farms were seropositive for C. burnetii by ELISA. In dairy cattle with mastitis, 15 (38.5%) milk samples from 9 (42.9%) farms were seropositive among 39 milk samples from 21 farms. Among the seropositive farms, one farm with high seroprevalence was selected to assess the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in the bulk-tank milk (BTM) and blood samples of dairy cattle. The BTM sample from the farm was seropositive to C. burnetii and 6 (15%) out of 40 dairy cattle were seropositive. In cattle with reproductive disorders including infertility, abortion and stillbirth, 2 (1.9%) samples from 2 (3.2%) farms were positive among 107 samples collected from 62 farms. Among 2 positive samples, one of them is dariy cattle (100%) and the other is Korean cattle (0.9%) (P<0.001). This suggests that Korean cattle was relatively resistant to C. burnetii. Based on the data obtained, we identified association between C. burnetii shedding in milk and chronic subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle. Since seroprevalence of C. burnetii is relatively high in dairy cattle, further intensive studies on C. burnetii among the high risk milk farms and dairy cattle herds are needed to evaluate infection status.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2013

Q fever is a rickettsial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii that is transmitted from animals to humans. Modes of transmission to humans include inhalation, tick bites and ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products. This survey was aimed at monitoring the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in bulk-tank milk (BTM) in Gyeongbuk province. In addition, the seroprevalence of C. burnetii was investigated at the herd level of dairy cattle in eastern Gyeongbuk province in which many dairy cattle are reared. Among 324 BTM samples collected from 20 country areas, 175 (54%) BTM samples from 15 (75%) country areas were positive for C. burnetii by ELISA. By regions, the seroprevalence of BTM samples in eastern, central, western and northern areas of Gyeongbuk province were 62.7%, 48.4%, 45.1%, and 41.4%, respectively. When analyzed in the dairy cattle reared in the eastern area where high seroprevalence occurred in BTM samples, 119 (24.2%) out of 492 dairy cattle were positive for C. burnetii. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii in dairy cattle was increased with daily milk yield of farm (P<0.05) and age (P<0.001). Since seroprevalence of C. burnetii is relatively high in both BTM samples and dairy cattle reared in Gyeongbuk province, further studies on the high risk farms and herds are needed to evaluate infection status and appropriate control programs in this region.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.211-216
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• 2020

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever which is a zoonosis occuring in both humans and animals worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in Korean native goat in Gyeongnam province, Korea. A total of 1,365 goat blood samples from 273 farms in Gyeongnam province were collected between 2018 and 2019. Among them, 177 (13.0%) samples out of 71 (26.0%) farms were seropositive for C. burnetii by ELISA. Seroprevalence were 15.4% and 10.9% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. According to the region, seroprevalence in western, central, eastern, northern and southern areas of Gyeongnam province were 16.6%, 17.8%, 8.0%, 11.6% and 10.8%, respectively. Seroprevalence was increased with breeding scale (Head<10:7.0%, 10≤Head<50:8.7%, 50≤Head<100:13.6%, 100≤Head:28.8%). Seroprevalence according to the season showed highest in summer (18.9%) and lowest in winter (9.4%). These results indicated that C. burnetii infection is widespread among Korean native goats of Gyeongnam province in Korea and further study needs to prevent the circulation of other livestock with Korean native goat.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

Q fever is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are considered to be major source of human infection. The aim of this survey was to investigate seroprevalence of C. burnetii in ruminants in Gwangju area. A total of 1,000 samples (serum and lactoserum) were collected from 987 Korean native cattle, 5 Korean native goats, 2 beef cattle, 6 bulk-tank milk from each dairy farm in Gwangju area from January to October 2020 and analyzed by ELISA. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii in bulk-tank milk from each dairy farms was 50.0%. Korean black goat and beef cattle had negative antibody test results for C. burnetii. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii in Korean native cattle in Gwangju area was 7.1% and was higher in female (7.8%) than in male (3.4%) (P=0.024). The seroprevalence of C. burnetii in Korean native cattle appeared to increase with age (3.8% in 1 year-old, 7.1% in 3 year-old, and 10.7% in more than 5 year-old) (P<0.001). The seroprevalence of C. burnetii of Korean native cattle increased in spring and May was the highest in particular (P<0.001). As the distribution and density of tick-habitat are expected to increase due to climate crisis, this survey highlights the need for monitoring C. burnetii in domestic ruminants, including surveillance of C. burnetii infection in people working for livestock industry.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2015

Both Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis are zoonosis. Q-fever occurs due to intracellular bacteria, while Toxoplasmosis is created by protozoan. Both of them have a wide range of host including livestock and wild animals and occur sporadically all over in the world. In this study, seroprevalence of Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis was investigated on cows bred in the area of Seoul where there was a fairly high possibility to occur, while vaccine was not used in Korea. As for experiment materials, cattle blood collected from 190 cows from February to September in 2014 was used ELISA. According to the result, there was a positive reaction on Q-fever from 18 cows out of total 190 cows (9.5%) and on Toxoplasmosis from 32 cows (16.8%). Seroprevalence of both diseases per age was turned out to be negative for those aged less than 2. In addition, it was shown to be positive on 4 cows out of 87 (4.6%) cows aged from 3 to 5, on 7 cows out of 30 cows (23.3%) aged from 6 to 7. Finally, it was shown to be positive on 7 cows out of 17 cows (41.2%) aged 8 or above. Toxoplasmosis was turned out to be positive on 1 cow out of 56 cows (1.8%) aged less than 2, on 6 cows out of 87 cows (6.9%) aged from 3 to 5, on 17 cows out of 30 cows (56.7%) aged from 6 to 7. In addition, it was turned out to be 8 cows out of 17 cows (47.1%) aged 8 or above. Seroprevalence of both diseases was turned out to be higher as age increased. Therefore, it seems that a wide range of investigation on the entire disease spreaders as well as livestock is required since infection of Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis, types of zoonosis, has continuously occurred, and the number of insects, wild animals, and stray animals serving as a role of spreading diseases by changes in seasons and environments has been gradually increasing in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.147-150
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• 2014

Q-fever is a vector-borne (Coxiella [C.] burnetii) zoonotic disease that is an increasing public health concern. To date, some research about Q-fever prevalence in dairy herds and human patients has been reported in Korea, but information about Korean native cattle is scarce. To measure the prevalence rates of C. burnetii in Korean native cattle, a total of 1,095 bovine serum samples collected during 2010~2013 were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixty-eight heads of cattle were diagnosed as positive and while 19 heads were suspected (positive rate = 6.2%). Interestingly, Jeju province had a seropositivity rate six times greater than that of other provinces (18.9% vs. 3.2%). High seroprevalence might be caused by wide distribution of ticks in Jeju province compared to other regions. Based on these data, extensive monitoring of C. burnetii infection in cattle, tick distribution, and climate changes is required.