Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain
Introduction: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, primarily transmitted to humans via airborne from livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats, though the pathogen is also found in other domestic and wild species. There is limited information on how environmental factors, inclu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | One Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425002009 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849228391253803008 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel Cifo María Alonso-Colón David González-Barrio Beatriz Fernández-Martínez Rebeca Ramis Isabel Jado Rosa M. Estévez-Reboredo Diana Gómez-Barroso |
| author_facet | Daniel Cifo María Alonso-Colón David González-Barrio Beatriz Fernández-Martínez Rebeca Ramis Isabel Jado Rosa M. Estévez-Reboredo Diana Gómez-Barroso |
| author_sort | Daniel Cifo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, primarily transmitted to humans via airborne from livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats, though the pathogen is also found in other domestic and wild species. There is limited information on how environmental factors, including climate or livestock-related influence transmission risk in endemic areas. This study aims to assess the impact of these factors in Spain, the European country with the highest annual Q fever notifications. Methods: An ecological epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate Q fever risk in Spanish municipalities and its association with environmental factors. Spatial and spatio-temporal regression models were used to estimate relative risk and assess the effects of mean temperature, wind speed, precipitation and caprine, ovine, and bovine density (heads/km2). Results: The spatial model identified three high-risk areas: the Canary Islands, the north-central Iberian Peninsula and western Andalusia. Mean temperature and caprine density were significant, with a 14 % increase in spatial relative risk for every 10 additional goat heads/km2. The spatio-temporal model did not confirm the effect of temperature but found a positive association with mean wind speed, alongside a similar impact of caprine density. Conclusions: Caprine density appears to be a key determinant of municipal Q fever risk, with potential contributions from temperatures and wind speed. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventive measures, particularly regarding caprine livestock management and industry planning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6debb2c27194a6596caad69d7e850ae |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2352-7714 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | One Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6debb2c27194a6596caad69d7e850ae2025-08-23T04:48:41ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142025-12-012110116410.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101164Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in SpainDaniel Cifo0María Alonso-Colón1David González-Barrio2Beatriz Fernández-Martínez3Rebeca Ramis4Isabel Jado5Rosa M. Estévez-Reboredo6Diana Gómez-Barroso7Carlos III Health Institute – National School of Public Health (ISCIII-ENS), Madrid, Spain; UNED – ENS Mixed Research Institute (IMIENS), Spain; Corresponding author at: Carlos III Health Institute – National School of Public Health (ISCIII-ENS), Madrid, Spain.Carlos III Health Institute – National School of Public Health (ISCIII-ENS), Madrid, Spain; UNED – ENS Mixed Research Institute (IMIENS), SpainCarlos III Health Institute – National Centre of Microbiology (ISCIII-CNM), Madrid, Spain; Consortium for Biochemical Research in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, SpainCarlos III Health Institute – National Centre of Epidemiology (ISCIII-CNE). Department of Infectious Diseases, Madrid, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainConsortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Carlos III Health Institute – National Centre of Epidemiology (ISCIII-CNE), Department of Chronic Diseases, Madrid, SpainCarlos III Health Institute – National Centre of Microbiology (ISCIII-CNM), Madrid, SpainCarlos III Health Institute – National Centre of Epidemiology (ISCIII-CNE). Department of Infectious Diseases, Madrid, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainCarlos III Health Institute – National Centre of Epidemiology (ISCIII-CNE). Department of Infectious Diseases, Madrid, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainIntroduction: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, primarily transmitted to humans via airborne from livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats, though the pathogen is also found in other domestic and wild species. There is limited information on how environmental factors, including climate or livestock-related influence transmission risk in endemic areas. This study aims to assess the impact of these factors in Spain, the European country with the highest annual Q fever notifications. Methods: An ecological epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate Q fever risk in Spanish municipalities and its association with environmental factors. Spatial and spatio-temporal regression models were used to estimate relative risk and assess the effects of mean temperature, wind speed, precipitation and caprine, ovine, and bovine density (heads/km2). Results: The spatial model identified three high-risk areas: the Canary Islands, the north-central Iberian Peninsula and western Andalusia. Mean temperature and caprine density were significant, with a 14 % increase in spatial relative risk for every 10 additional goat heads/km2. The spatio-temporal model did not confirm the effect of temperature but found a positive association with mean wind speed, alongside a similar impact of caprine density. Conclusions: Caprine density appears to be a key determinant of municipal Q fever risk, with potential contributions from temperatures and wind speed. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventive measures, particularly regarding caprine livestock management and industry planning.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425002009Q feverZoonosesSpatialEnvironmentLivestockTemperature |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Cifo María Alonso-Colón David González-Barrio Beatriz Fernández-Martínez Rebeca Ramis Isabel Jado Rosa M. Estévez-Reboredo Diana Gómez-Barroso Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain One Health Q fever Zoonoses Spatial Environment Livestock Temperature |
| title | Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain |
| title_full | Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain |
| title_short | Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain |
| title_sort | environmental risk factors of human q fever in spain |
| topic | Q fever Zoonoses Spatial Environment Livestock Temperature |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425002009 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielcifo environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT mariaalonsocolon environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT davidgonzalezbarrio environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT beatrizfernandezmartinez environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT rebecaramis environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT isabeljado environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT rosamestevezreboredo environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain AT dianagomezbarroso environmentalriskfactorsofhumanqfeverinspain |