First serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii exposure in domestic ruminants in Somalia: Implications for one health surveillance.

Abstract

The recent serological detection of Coxiella burnetii exposure in Somali livestock (12.6% seroprevalence among 372 ruminants) is an important addition to the limited epidemiological evidence on zoonotic disease ecology in the Horn of Africa. This finding, combined with prior molecular evidence of a novel C. burnetii genotype (D21) in ticks infesting Somali camels and high seroprevalence (21.4%) in febrile patients in neighboring Ethiopia, provides a rationale for investigating Q fever as a potentially under-recognized zoonosis in the region. However, critical knowledge gaps persist, including limited geographic sampling, absence of published human serosurveillance from Somalia, lack of molecular characterization of circulating strains in livestock, and inadequate understanding of transmission dynamics at the human-animal-environment interface. This correspondence synthesizes available evidence, identifies specific research priorities, and proposes a context-adapted One Health surveillance framework as a conceptual proposal requiring feasibility assessment and stakeholder adaptation. We argue that the serological evidence of C. burnetii exposure in Somali ruminants should catalyze coordinated, cross-sectoral interventions feasible within Somalia's current resource-limited setting.