Inctdence of q fever among infected and inapparently infected animals and man in upper egypt

The prevalence of Q fever infectionamong man anddifferent species of farm animals in Upper Egyptserologically estimated using complement fixation (CF)Enzyme Linked Irnrnunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests.The existence of Q fever infection among the differentspecies of farm animals indicates its endemicity with clearcut infection in 57.3% of the examined animals.The sero-epidemic survey of Q fever in dairy cows (28%)indicates their significance as maintenance reservoir of thedisease in Assiut (17.1%), Sohag (54.7%) and Quena (39.1%)Governorates. The detectable antibodies were significantlycorrelated to the persistance of Coxiella burnetii in the ••environment and the dense population of the animals in thedairies rather than other factors including breed and age.Diabat farm has the highest attack rate of infection (54.7%)followed by Naga-Hamadi (39.1%), EI-Awamer (29.8%), Beni-Mur(12.2%) and Abnob-EI Hamam (6.7%) farmsThe s e r o-: prevalence of Q fever among sheep ( 67 . 3%)revealed their significance as a major reservoir host of thediseas~ in both Assiut (72.8%) and Sohag (62.1%) Governo-rates. No statistical correlation between the serologic-status and age was observed and all age seem to besusceptible to Coxiella burnetii infection.