PMID- 28274243 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20170316 LR - 20181113 IS - 1746-6148 (Electronic) IS - 1746-6148 (Linking) VI - 13 IP - 1 DP - 2017 Mar 9 TI - Presence of Coxiella burnetii DNA in inflamed bovine cardiac valves. PG - 69 LID - 10.1186/s12917-017-0988-5 [doi] LID - 69 AB - BACKGROUND: Bacterial endocarditis is a recognised disease in humans and animals. In humans, infection with Coxiella burnetii can cause endocarditis, but this has not been investigated thoroughly in animals. Endocarditis in cattle is a common post-mortem finding in abattoirs and studies have identified Trueperella pyogenes as a major cause. Despite exposure of cattle to C. burnetii, the significance of this particular bacterium for development and progression of endocarditis has not been studied in detail. Cardiac valves of cattle affected with endocarditis (n = 100) were examined by histology, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum was examined for anti-C. burnetii antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Serology revealed that 70% of the cattle were positive for antibodies to C. burnetii, while PCR analysis identified 25% of endocarditis valve samples as being positive. C. burnetii was not detected by FISH, probably due to the low infection levels. Most cattle had chronic valvular vegetative endocarditis with lesions being characterised by a core of fibrous tissue covered by significant amounts of fibrin, sometimes with areas of liquefaction, and with a coagulum covering the surface. In a few cases, including the case with the highest infection level, lesions were characterized by extensive fibrosis and calcification. Histologically, bacteria other than C. burnetii were observed in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of C. burnetii DNA is relatively common in cattle affected with valvular endocarditis. The role of C. burnetii remains however unknown as lesions did not differ between C. burnetii infected and non-infected cattle and because T. pyogenes-like bacteria were present in the inflamed valves; a bacterium able to induce the observed lesions. Heart valves of normal cattle should be investigated to assess if C. burnetii may be present without preexisting lesions. FAU - Agerholm, Jorgen S AU - Agerholm JS AD - Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Hojbakkegaard Alle 5, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark. jager@sund.ku.dk. FAU - Jensen, Tim K AU - Jensen TK AD - National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bulowsvej 27, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. FAU - Agger, Jens F AU - Agger JF AD - Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Hojbakkegaard Alle 5, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark. FAU - Engelsma, Marc Y AU - Engelsma MY AD - Department of Diagnostics and Crisis Organisation, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Edelhertweg 15, 8219 PH, Lelystad, The Netherlands. FAU - Roest, Hendrik I J AU - Roest HI AD - Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Edelhertweg 15, 8219 PH, Lelystad, The Netherlands. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20170309 PL - England TA - BMC Vet Res JT - BMC veterinary research JID - 101249759 RN - 0 (Antibodies, Bacterial) RN - 0 (DNA, Bacterial) SB - IM MH - Animals MH - Antibodies, Bacterial/blood MH - Cattle MH - Cattle Diseases/*microbiology MH - Coxiella burnetii/*genetics MH - DNA, Bacterial/*isolation & purification MH - Endocarditis, Bacterial/microbiology/*veterinary MH - Female MH - Heart Valves/*microbiology MH - Inflammation/microbiology/veterinary MH - Male MH - Q Fever/microbiology/*veterinary PMC - PMC5343293 OTO - NOTNLM OT - Cattle OT - Coxiella burnetii OT - Endocarditis OT - PCR OT - Q fever EDAT- 2017/03/10 06:00 MHDA- 2017/03/17 06:00 PMCR- 2017/03/09 CRDT- 2017/03/10 06:00 PHST- 2016/09/28 00:00 [received] PHST- 2017/03/03 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2017/03/10 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2017/03/10 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2017/03/17 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2017/03/09 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.1186/s12917-017-0988-5 [pii] AID - 988 [pii] AID - 10.1186/s12917-017-0988-5 [doi] PST - epublish SO - BMC Vet Res. 2017 Mar 9;13(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-0988-5.