Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in Kope cheese and cattle milk in West Azerbaijan, Iran

There are few studies on Coxiella burnetii (Cb) as a causative agent of Q fever in dairy products in Iran. The prevalence of Cb was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in Kope (pot) cheese and cattle milk collected from West Azerbaijan province, Iran. A total number of 240 Kope cheese and 560 milk samples were collected during the year 2020. All samples were subjected to PCR based on transposable gene IS1111. The results showed that 12.50% (95.00% confidence interval (CI): 9.00 - 16.10%) of Kope cheese and 13.00% (95.00% CI: 10.00 - 17.30%) of milk samples were positive for Cb. There was a significant difference in cheese and milk contaminations with Cb among the defined age groups as well as regional and seasonal variations. It was concluded that Kope cheese and cattle milk are important sources of Cb and should be considered as important risk factors in the epidemiology of Q fever disease in public health.