A cross‑sectional survey was carried out in dairy cattle and buffalo herds from the Southern Italy to detect antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. From 2014 to 2018, 402 herds were monitored and 50 mL of bulk‑tank milk (BTM) per farm was analyzed by indirect ELISA. Blood samples of animals from positive farms were also taken and analyzed with the same ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence was 35% [95% Confidence interval (CI):30‑39] at herd level and 13% (95%CI:13‑14) at animal level. Herd province seroprevalences ranged from 17% to 75%. The provinces of Matera (71%, 95%CI:38‑105) and Agrigento (75%, 95%CI:51‑100) showed the highest percentage of infected farms. These results describe the widespread distribution of C. burnetii in livestock from Southern Italy, highlighting the need to implement a monitoring program for Q fever.
Keywords: Cattle; Buffalo; ELISA; Q fever; Zoonosis.