1Higher Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Medicine/Dalaba, BP 09 Dalaba, Guinea
2Microbiology-Epidemiology, Zoonosis and One Health Laboratory (LMEZOH), Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Research Laboratory (LR-MIP), Unit of Epidemic-Prone Diseases, Emerging Diseases and Zoonosis (UMEMEZ), National Reference Laboratory for Influenza (LNR-G), Department of Biomedical and Public Health, Health. Science Research Institute (IRSS), National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), 03 BP 7047 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso
3Institute for Rural Development (IDR), Nazi BONI University (UNB), 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
4International Center for Research and Development on Subhumid Livestock (CIRDES), BP 559, Street 5-31 Avenue of Governor Louveau, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
5University of Labé, BP 210 Labé, Guinea
Background: C. burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium responsible for Q fever, with domestic ruminants being the main reservoirs and source of transmission of the bacterium to humans. To date, there is very little data in Africa regarding the association of C. burnetii with reproductive disorders in ruminants. This systematic review highlights the data from Africa over the last ten years (2014-2023) of C. burnetii in association with reproductive disorders in domestic ruminants in order to guide researchers' efforts in future research in African countries in order to better understand the current situation and identify gaps in existing knowledge.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using PRISMA criteria in two search databases publish or perish, and researchrabbit and also with search engines, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, semantic scholar, google scholar, crossref as well as Medline to search for documents published in Africa between 2014-2023 on the association of C. burnetii with reproductive disorders in domestic ruminants. Different diagnostic methods (ELISA and PCR test) were used to identify C. burnetii in samples of aborted animals and other parturient products.
Results: For this systematic review, a total of 20 articles were eligible. These articles are distributed as follows: 10 articles were carried out in North Africa, 05 in East Africa, 04 in Southern Africa and 01 in West Africa. No data in Guinea concern the association of C. burnetii with reproductive disorders in domestic ruminants. Different prevalences of antibodies to C. burnetii were observed with an overall abortion percentage of 16.1%. C. burnetii DNA was identified in aborted animals and gave 20% in sheep and 22.56% in cattle. Stillbirths were 65% in sheep and 10% in goats. C. burnetii was observed in fourteen placental tissues (19.1%) in cattle.
Conclusion: In view of the research on the insufficiency of data in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, it would be wise to explore Q fever, a disease that is both abortive and zoonotic, in order to include it in the list of diseases requiring mandatory notification in order to improve epidemiological surveillance in public health.
Keywords: Reproductive Disorder; C. burnetii; Domestic Ruminants; A
Mama Agnes Tea., et al. “Systematic Review of Reproductive Disorders in Ruminants Linked to Bacteria Coxiella burnetii in Africa during the Last Ten Years (2014-2023)”. EC Microbiology 21.1 (2025): 01-16 .
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