Abstract:
Various zoonotic microorganisms cause reproductive problems such as abortions and
stillbirths, leading to economic losses on farms, particularly within livestock. In South Africa,
bovine brucellosis is endemic in cattle, and from 2013–2018, outbreaks of Brucella melitensis
occurred in sable. Coxiella burnetii, the agent responsible for the zoonotic disease known as
Q-fever and/or coxiellosis, also causes reproductive problems and infects multiple domestic
animal species worldwide, including humans. However, little is known of this disease in
wildlife. With the expansion of the wildlife industry in South Africa, diseases like brucellosis
and coxiellosis can significantly impact herd breeding success because of challenges in
identifying, managing and treating diseases in wildlife populations. This study investigated
samples obtained from aborted sable and roan antelope, initially suspected to be brucellosis,
from game farms in South Africa using serology tests and ruminant VetMAX™ polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) abortion kit. The presence of C. burnetii was confirmed with PCR in a
sable abortion case, while samples from both sable and roan were seropositive for C. burnetii
indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). This study represents the initial
report of C. burnetii infection in sable and roan antelope in South Africa. Epidemiological
investigations are crucial to assess the risk of C. burnetii in sable and roan populations, as well
as wildlife and livestock in general, across South Africa. This is important in intensive farming
practices, particularly as Q-fever, being a zoonotic disease, poses a particular threat to the
health of veterinarians and farm workers as well as domestic animals.
