Identification of Coxiella Burnetti and Mycobacterium SPP through Touch-down PCR Examination in Unpasteurized Camel Milk in North-East of Iran

Introduction: Food-borne illness cause major international health problems and reduce economic growth. A highly prevalent zoonotic disease is Q fever, found in many areas like New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Coxiella burnetii is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium that is considered in ruminants and ubiquitous and can survive in the environment for a long time. Early and reliable diagnosis of food borne pathogens through molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction is critical to find positive outcomes in eradication programs. Method: In this study 100 milk samples obtained from 100 camels were examined in terms of C. burnetii and Mycobacterium presence through a Touch-down PCR assay. Results: In total, there were six positive specimens of Coxiella burnetii in camel milk samples. No Mycobacterium was found in the samples. Conclusions: The findings indicated that healthy camels were major sources of C. burnetii in North-East of Iran. There is a need for studies on risk of Coxiella infection in farmers, veterinarians, milk‐processing and slaughterhouse workers.