Investigation of Q Fever in Kilis and Shamil goats by ELISA and Touchdown-PCR

Abstract

This study was carried out on Kilis and Shamil goats to determine the different stages of Q fever-chronic and acute- in serum samples by indirect ELISA and in blood samples by touchdown-PCR, respectively. A total of 92 serum samples comprising 46 Kilis and 46 Shamil goats was examined and 7.60%, 4.34% and 10.8% seropositivity were determined for total serum samples, Kilis and Shamil goat serum samples, respectively. Of the examined 92 blood samples belonging to 46 Kilis and 46 Shamil goats, none of them yielded 687 bp PCR products by touchdown-PCR. The positive ELISA titers were thought to be the evidence of previous infection. The province of Kilis localized in South-East Anatolian Region of Turkey was decided to be a risky region for Q fever.