Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
2
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, 516665-1647, Tabriz, Iran
3
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
10.22092/ari.2025.368078.3478
Abstract
Q fever, caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), is an important zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. While ruminants are the main reservoir of C. burnetii, which are the primary source of human infection, human cases have also been demonstrated following contact with domestic dogs and cats. The present study investigates C. burnetii infection in domestic cats referred to veterinary clinics and hospitals in Tabriz and Tehran cities (Iran) through molecular (Real time PCR) and histopathological methods. For this purpose, samples were collected from 50 cat uteri that underwent hysterectomy surgery. Each sample was divided into two parts; one part was fixed in a 10% formalin buffer for histopathological examination, while the other part was stored at -70 °C, which used for quantitative PCR assay. After genomic DNA extraction using commercial kits, a real-time-PCR reaction was performed with specific primers and probes for detection of C. burnetii genome. For histopathological examination, tissue sections were processed routinely and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In the present study, all samples showed the negative results for detection of C. burnetii genome by real-time-PCR assay. However, at pathological evaluations, the tissue sections showed various degrees of edema, hyperemia, hemorrhage, inflammation, necrosis, fibrosis, cysts, and endometrial hyperplasia, ranging from mild to severe. Generally, it seems that C. burnetii infection is not common in the reproductive tissues or vaginal discharge. In conclusion, based on the present findings and considering the zoonotic aspect of C. burnetii infection, it appears that C. burnetii infection is not common in domestic cats in Tehran and Tabriz. Although further research on other samples is recommended.
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