Identification and distribution of pathogens coinfecting with Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus in humans, livestock and wildlife

Journal Article · Sat Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Zoonoses and Public Health

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12905· OSTI ID:1856157

Middlebrook, Earl Austin  ^[1]; Romero, Alicia Teresa ^[1]; Bett, Bernard ^[2]; Nthiwa, Daniel ^[3]; Oyola, Samuel O. ^[2]; Fair, Jeanne Marie  ^[1]; Bartlow, Andrew William  ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2. International Livestock Research Inst., Nairobi (Kenya)
3. International Livestock Research Inst., Nairobi (Kenya); Univ. of Embu (Kenya)

Zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, Q fever and Rift Valley fever (RVF) caused by Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and RVF virus, respectively, can have devastating effects on human, livestock, and wildlife health and cause economic hardship due to morbidity and mortality in livestock. Coinfection with multiple pathogens can lead to more severe disease outcomes and altered transmission dynamics. These three pathogens can alter host immune responses likely leading to increased morbidity, mortality and pathogen transmission during coinfection. Developing countries, such as those commonly afflicted by outbreaks of brucellosis, Q fever and RVF, have high disease burden and thus common coinfections. A literature survey provided information on case reports and studies investigating coinfections involving the three focal diseases. Fifty five studies were collected demonstrating coinfections of Brucella spp., C. burnetii or RVFV with 50 different pathogens, of which 64% were zoonotic. While the literature search criteria involved ‘coinfection’, only 24/55 studies showed coinfections with direct pathogen detection methods (microbiology, PCR and antigen test), while the rest only reported detection of antibodies against multiple pathogens, which only indicate a history of co-exposure, not concurrent infection. These studies lack the ability to test whether coinfection leads to changes in morbidity, mortality or transmission dynamics. We describe considerations and methods for identifying ongoing coinfections to address this critical blind spot in disease risk management.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1856157
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-20-30335
• Journal Information: Zoonoses and Public Health, Vol. 69, Issue 3; ISSN 1863-1959
• Publisher: Wiley
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
Brucellosis
co-exposure
diagnostics
especially dangerous pathogens
Q fever
Rift Valley fever
serology
zoonotic disease