SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINATION OF TARGET ANIMALS (CATTLE, SHEEP AND GOATS) AS A MEASURE TO CONTROL AND ERADICATE Q FEVER DISEASE

Q fever is a natural focal disease (ticks are one of the main reservoirs of C. burnetii in nature and play an important role in maintaining outbreaks in farm animals), which belongs to the group of zooanthroponoses, i.е. affects not only animals but also humans. The causative agent is the obligatory intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii, which has significant resistance in the external environment and high temperatures. Carriage of Coxiella has been demonstrated in 62 species of ticks of the families Ixodidae, Argasidae and Gamasidae. Among the most common vectors of C. burnetii are Rh. sanguineus, H. plumbeum, Rh. turanicum, I. ricinus, H. marginatum, H. punctata, etc.). From the public health point of view and economic consequences, Q fever is a zoonotic disease of high public importance, the etiological agent of which, Coxiella burnetii, is included in Group B of the OIE list of potential weapons.

After the scientific assessment of the possibilities for application of vaccine against Coxiella burnetii for control and eradication of Q fever, found in a number of areas of Bulgaria in humans (among which farm owners, veterinarians and staff) and established positive herds of large and small ruminants, it can be concluded that the most effective strategy for controlling Q fever is considered to be the long-term vaccination strategy and vaccination of the whole herd – vaccination in already infected herds of ruminants or in healthy herds.