Q fever and toxoplasmosis in South African livestock and wildlife: A retrospective study on seropositivity and sporadic abortion, and on stillbirth cases in livestock caused by Coxiella burnetii

Abstract Background: Q fever and toxoplasmosis are economically important zoonoses as they cause considerable losses in livestock through reproductive disorders such as abortions and stillbirths. Q fever and toxoplasmosis testing in South Africa is conducted by the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR). However, both zoonoses are understudied and not monitored in South Africa as they are not considered controlled or notifiable diseases in the Animal Disease Act 35 of 1984. A retrospective study was conducted on Q fever (2007-2009) and toxoplasmosis (2007-2017) using diagnostic laboratory data at the ARC-OVR. Also, we report on sporadic abortion and stillbirth cases in livestock from diagnostic tissue samples submitted for Coxiella burnetii polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection at the ARC-OVR. Results: During 2007 to 2009, 766 animal samples were tested for C. burnetii antibodies and seropositivity was 0.9% (95%CI: 0.3-1.7) with sheep (1.9%; 95%CI: 0.6-4.4) having the highest seropositivity followed by cattle (0.7%; 95%CI: 0.09-2.6), while all goats (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0-4.2) and wildlife (antelopes, giraffes, lions, and cheetahs) (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0-2.5) tested were negative. From 2007 to 2017, 567 sera were tested for T. gondii antibodies; overall seropositivity was 12.2% (95%CI: 9.6-15). Wildlife (antelopes, giraffes, lions, and cheetahs) had highest seropositivity to T. gondii antibodies (13.9%; 95%CI: 9.0-19.7) followed by goats (12.9%; 95%CI: 9.2-17.4) and sheep (12.3%; 95%CI: 5.1-23.8) while seropositivity in cattle was 2.4% (95%CI: 0.06-12.9). Of 11 animals tested by C. burnetii PCR detection (2021-2022), 10 (91.0 %) tested positive by IS1111 PCR. The study confirmed the first presence of C. burnetii and T. gondii in various provinces of South Africa, which can pave pave way for future epidemiological studies Conclusions: More studies on Q fever and toxoplasmosis are needed in different provinces of South Africa to be able to implement effective control measures for the two zoonoses. It is recommended that improvements in data collection on the samples tested should include associated factors such as sex, age, and breed of the animals.