Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search
Advanced Search
mobile menu button

Search

Page Path
HOME > Search
3 "Q fever"
Filter
Filter
Article category
Keywords
More +
Publication year
Authors
More +
Funded articles
Original Articles
Spatial analysis of human Coxiella burnetii infection and populations of goat and cattle in Korea, 2015-2024
Seung-Bum Kang, Dae Sung Yoo
Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025068.   Published online December 9, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025068
  • 1,208 View
  • 64 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Q fever is a bacterial zoonosis that occurs worldwide. Although several studies have reported associations between goat populations and human Q fever outbreaks in Korea, spatial correlation analyses remain limited. Therefore, this study examined the geographic correlation between human Q fever outbreaks and the distributions of goats and cattle in Korea.
METHODS
This study covered a 10-year period (2015-2024), using each of the 250 districts in Korea as the unit of analysis. Data were divided into 2 time periods: 2015-2019 and 2020-2024. Hotspots for the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) were identified using Getis-Ord Gi*. Spatial correlations between SIR and goat and cattle populations were evaluated using a multivariable spatial error model, and the associations between hotspot variables and livestock abundance were assessed using a multivariable Leroux conditional autoregressive model.
RESULTS
SIRs for human Q fever showed significant positive spatial associations with goat populations in 2016 (coefficient=46.52, p<0.01) and 2021 (coefficient=70.97, p<0.01). The associations between goat populations (2016 and 2021) and hotspot classifications were consistent across both periods, with the odds ratio increasing from 1.87 (95% credible interval [CrI], 1.23 to 2.85) in 2015-2019 to 2.33 (95% CrI, 1.55 to 3.64) in 2020-2024. No significant associations were observed between human Q fever and cattle populations.
CONCLUSIONS
Goat populations are becoming more strongly spatially correlated with human Q fever incidence. These findings underscore the need for enhanced preventive management of goat farms to mitigate future outbreaks.
Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 2015~2024년 국내 사람 큐열 발생과 가축 개체수 간의 공간적 상관관계를 분석한 최초의 연구이다. 분석 결과, 사람 큐열 발생은 염소 개체수와 유의한 양의 상관관계를 보였으며 그 연관성은 최근 더욱 강화된 반면, 소 개체수와는 유의미한 연관성이 나타나지 않았다. 이는 향후 인수공통감염병 발생 억제를 위해 염소 농가에 특화된 예방적 관리와 방역 교육이 필수적임을 시사한다.
Key Message
This study is the first to analyze the spatial correlation between human Q fever outbreaks and livestock populations in South Korea from 2015 to 2024. The results reveal a significant positive spatial association between human Q fever incidence and goat populations, which strengthened over the 10-year period, whereas no such correlation was found with cattle. These findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced preventive management and biosecurity education specifically for goat farms to mitigate future zoonotic outbreak.
Risk factors for Q fever incidence in Korea: a comparative analysis using frequentist and Bayesian methods
Ji-Hyun Son, Sung-Dae Park
Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025046.   Published online August 20, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025046
  • 3,128 View
  • 66 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the principal determinants of human Q fever incidence and explored regional variation between metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea.
METHODS
Panel data on human Q fever incidence, livestock populations, and facility metrics were collected across 17 metropolitan cities and provinces from 2017 to 2024. Analytical approaches included frequentist models (ordinary least squares [OLS], random effects [RE], fixed effects [FE]) and Bayesian models.
RESULTS
Frequentist panel analysis indicated that slaughterhouse count was positively associated with Q fever incidence in both pooled OLS (β=1.20, p<0.001) and RE models (β=1.03, p<0.001), but not in the FE model (β=0.14, p=0.65). After correcting for serial correlation using Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, livestock population (β=0.55, p<0.01), livestock market count (β=-2.01, p<0.05), and livestock Q fever cases (β=-0.11, p<0.01) were significantly associated with human incidence. A Bayesian FE model confirmed a significant relationship between slaughterhouses and human Q fever incidence (posterior mean: 0.87; 95% credible interval [CrI], 0.21 to 1.42), providing more stable inference with limited samples and allowing probabilistic uncertainty estimation. A Bayesian hierarchical model revealed a stronger association in metropolitan cities (posterior mean, 1.46; 95% CrI, 0.34 to 2.57) than in provinces (1.22), while livestock population remained significant in provinces (0.94; 95% CrI, 0.15 to 1.74).
CONCLUSIONS
In Korea, slaughterhouse density was the main determinant of Q fever in metropolitan cities and livestock density was the primary risk factor in provinces. These findings underscore the need for region-specific preventive strategies and reinforce the value of a One Health approach.
Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 대한민국 내 큐열(Q fever) 발생의 주요 위험 요인이 지역별로 다르다는 것을 규명하였다. 광역시(metropolitan cities)에서는 도축장 밀도가, 도(provinces)에서는 가축 사육 밀도가 사람에서 큐열 발생의 주된 위험 요인으로 확인되었다. 이러한 결과는 사람, 동물, 환경의 건강을 통합적으로 고려하는 원헬스(One Health) 접근법에 기반하여 각 지역 특성에 맞는 예방 전략이 필요함을 강조한다.
Key Message
This study identified that the primary risk factors for Q fever in Korea vary by region. Slaughterhouse density was the main determinant of human Q fever incidence in metropolitan cities, whereas livestock density was the primary risk factor in provinces. These findings underscore the need for region-specific preventive strategies based on a One Health approach, which integrally considers human, animal, and environmental health.
Systematic Review
The prevalence of Q fever in the Eastern Mediterranean region: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mozhgan Ahmadinezhad, Leila Mounesan, Amin Doosti-Irani, Manijeh Yousefi Behzadi
Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022097.   Published online October 28, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022097
  • 25,842 View
  • 200 Download
  • 10 Web of Science
  • 11 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Q fever, caused by the bacterium, is a major zoonotic disease around the world. This disease is common in the Eastern Mediterranean region; therefore, we conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis on its prevalence in humans, animals, and ticks in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
METHODS
Major Iranian and international databases were searched from 2000 to 2021. We extracted the prevalence of Q fever in blood samples from animals and milk samples from animals, ticks, and humans as the main outcome. We reported the prevalence of seropositivity and molecular positivity as point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
In this review, 112 papers were identified. The overall seroprevalence of Q fever was 22.4% (95% CI, 19.8 to 25.1). The pooled prevalence of Q fever in ticks was 17.5% (95% CI, -1.3 to 36.4). The prevalence was 25.5% (95% CI, 16.1 to 34.9) in humans. The prevalence of Q fever in animal blood samples from goats, sheep, camels, cattle, cats, dogs, horses, and buffalo were 28.1%, 25.1%, 25.0%, 20.1%, 9.8%, 8.4%, 6.5%, and 6.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of Q fever in milk samples of animals was higher in cattle (20.3%) than in sheep (20.0%), goats (16.4%), and camels (3.3%).
CONCLUSIONS
Coxiella burnetii infections are common in humans and in a wide range of animal species, but they are still not recognized in many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, thus presenting a significant threat to human and animal health in the region.
Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever) in livestock in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
    Hassan M. Baroom, Naser A. Alkenani, Bassam O. Al-Johny, Adi A. Almohimeed, Mohammed S. Mohammed, Layla A. Alshehri, Shaker S. Althobaiti, Raga I. Omar, Majed A. Alshaeri, Saleh M. Al-mmaqar
    Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C.2025; 80(5-6): 275.     CrossRef
  • Prevalence and Risk Factors of Coxiellosis at the Human–Animal–Environment Interface in the South Asian Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
    Md Mazharul Islam, Pronesh Dutta, Devendra Bansal, Gyanendra Gongal, Elmoubashar Farag, Ricardo J. Soares Magalhaes, John I. Alawneh, Jane Heller, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan, Serafeim C. Chaintoutis
    Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • One health approach based descriptive study on Coxiella burnetii infections in camels and abattoir workers in the United Arab Emirates
    Mohamud Sheek-Hussein, Aboma Zewude, Aminu S. Abdullahi, Nabeeha Hassan Abdelgaleel, Hassan Zackaria Ali Ishag, Mohd Farouk Yusof, Mohammed Saleh ALBreiki, Asma Mohamed Abdi Shah, Jamila AlNeyadi, Babiker Osman, Amir Abdullah Hassen, Mervat Mari Al Nuaima
    Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • First Survey on the Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Positive Human Patients from 2015 to 2024 in Sardinia, Italy
    Cinzia Santucciu, Maria Paola Giordo, Antonio Tanda, Giovanna Chessa, Matilde Senes, Gabriella Masu, Giovanna Masala, Valentina Chisu
    Pathogens.2025; 14(8): 790.     CrossRef
  • Prevalence of Acute Q Fever Among High‐Risk Patients With Fever and Pneumonia Symptoms in Western Iran
    Amjad Ahmadi, Rasool Nasiri Kalmarzi, Behzad Mohsenpour, Parisa Esmaeili, Mina Latifian, Ahmad Ghasemi, Rashid Ramazanzadeh, Himen Salimizand, Daem Roshani, Saber Esameili, Ehsan Mostafavi, Rajib Chowdhury
    Journal of Tropical Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Relationship between Reproductive Performance and the Presence of Antibodies against Coxiellosis in Dairy Farm Milk Tanks in the Northwest of Spain
    Uxía Yáñez, Jacobo Álvarez, Cristina Pisón, Antía Acción, Juan J. Becerra, Antonio Jiménez, Philippe Gisbert, Pedro G. Herradón, Ana I. Peña, Alberto Prieto, José M. Díaz-Cao, Luis A. Quintela
    Animals.2024; 14(3): 367.     CrossRef
  • Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in tick and blood samples from small ruminants in northwest of Iran
    Ahmad Enferadi Ghazanabad, Negin Esfandiari, Mohammadreza Najafi, Shahryar Mehrabi, Saeedeh Sarani, Peyman Khademi, Max Maurin
    Experimental and Applied Acarology.2024; 92(3): 529.     CrossRef
  • Global and regional seroprevalence of coxiellosis in small ruminants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
    Md Ahaduzzaman, Md Moktadir Billah Reza
    Veterinary Medicine and Science.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Two Cases of Acute Q Fever Diagnosed by mNGS and Literature Review
    娇 罗
    Advances in Clinical Medicine.2023; 13(07): 12005.     CrossRef
  • Zoonotic diseases transmitted from the camels
    Abdelmalik Ibrahim Khalafalla
    Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Q fever and coxiellosis: implications for livestock and human health in the UK
    Nick Wheelhouse, Richard Vazquez, Lorenzo Viora, Jo E. B. Halliday
    Livestock.2023; 28(5): 221.     CrossRef
Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health
© Korean Society of Epidemiology.
TOP