Introduction and Objective: The present study was conducted to molecularly search for Coxiella burnetii in raw milk samples collected from cows in western Iran (Lorestan Province).
Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study. A total of 150 milk samples were collected from sheep herds in the regions of Khoramabad and Poldokhtar in Lorestan Province. In the winter of 2021, a series of milk samples were collected, with the geographical area and the age of the animals being recorded. Extraction of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was conducted from all samples of milk. Subsequently, the nested-PCR reaction was utilized for the detection of C. burnetii, with the IS1111 transposon gene serving as the diagnostic target.
Results: The results obtained from the IS1111 transposon amplification assay revealed that 95% of the examined milk samples (with a 95% confidence interval of 0.7-55%) were from a genome infected with C. burnetii. There was no significant difference in the excretion of C. burnetii in milk between the Pol-e Dokhtar and Khorramabad regions.
Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that sheep milk can be regarded as a significant source of transmission for the bacterium C. burnetii to subsequent hosts. It is imperative to acknowledge the considerable persistence of C. burnetii, attributable to its spore-like form, in order to fully comprehend the gravity of the risk posed by its transmission via raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products. Consequently, sheep milk should be regarded as a significant element in the epidemiology of Q fever and public health in Pol-e Dokhtar and Khorramabad regions of Lorestan province.