Abstract
Zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, Q fever and Rift Valley fever (RVF) caused by Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and RVF virus, respectively, can have devastating effects on human, livestock, and wildlife health and cause economic hardship due to morbidity and mortality in livestock. Coinfection with multiple pathogens can lead to more
severe disease outcomes and altered transmission dynamics. These three pathogens
can alter host immune responses likely leading to increased morbidity, mortality and
pathogen transmission during coinfection. Developing countries, such as those commonly afflicted by outbreaks of brucellosis, Q fever and RVF, have high disease burden and thus common coinfections. A literature survey provided information on case
reports and studies investigating coinfections involving the three focal diseases. Fifty
five studies were collected demonstrating coinfections of Brucella spp., C. burnetii or
RVFV with 50 different pathogens, of which 64% were zoonotic. While the literature
search criteria involved ‘coinfection’, only 24/55 studies showed coinfections with direct pathogen detection methods (microbiology, PCR and antigen test), while the rest
only reported detection of antibodies against multiple pathogens, which only indicate
a history of co- exposure, not concurrent infection. These studies lack the ability to
test whether coinfection leads to changes in morbidity, mortality or transmission dynamics. We describe considerations and methods for identifying ongoing coinfections
to address this critical blind spot in disease risk management.
A., M (2024). Identification and distribution of pathogens coinfecting with Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus in humans, livestock and wildlife. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/identification-and-distribution-of-pathogens-coinfecting-with-brucella-spp-coxiella-burnetii-and-rift-valley-fever-virus-in-humans-livestock-and-wildlife
A., Middlebrook "Identification and distribution of pathogens coinfecting with Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus in humans, livestock and wildlife" Afribary. Afribary, 04 Jun. 2024, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/identification-and-distribution-of-pathogens-coinfecting-with-brucella-spp-coxiella-burnetii-and-rift-valley-fever-virus-in-humans-livestock-and-wildlife. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
A., Middlebrook . "Identification and distribution of pathogens coinfecting with Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus in humans, livestock and wildlife". Afribary, Afribary, 04 Jun. 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/identification-and-distribution-of-pathogens-coinfecting-with-brucella-spp-coxiella-burnetii-and-rift-valley-fever-virus-in-humans-livestock-and-wildlife >.
A., Middlebrook . "Identification and distribution of pathogens coinfecting with Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus in humans, livestock and wildlife" Afribary (2024). Accessed December 22, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/identification-and-distribution-of-pathogens-coinfecting-with-brucella-spp-coxiella-burnetii-and-rift-valley-fever-virus-in-humans-livestock-and-wildlife