first serologic survey of q fever in free-range yaks in china

the objective of the present investigation was to determine the seroprevalence of coxiella burnetii infection in free-range yaks in china. a total of 552 serum samples were collected from yaks in gansu province, northwest china between april 2013 and january 2014, and antibodies against c. burnetii were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). overall, 13.59% (75/552, 95% ci: 10.73-16.45) of the examined animals were positive for c. burnetii antibodies. there was no significant difference in c. burnetii seroprevalence between female yaks (13.78%, 95% ci: 10.36-17.19) and male yaks (13.13%, 95% ci: 7.89-18.36) (p>0.05). coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in yaks in different age groups ranged from 10.88% to 15.26%, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in yaks sampled in different seasons ranged from 12.06% (autumn) to 18.33% (summer), but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). this is the first report of c. burnetii seroprevalence in free-range yaks in china, indicating the need for measures to be taken to control c. burnetii infection in free-range yaks in china.