High diversity of Coxiella burnetii genotypes in Q fever human cases from Spain, 2012-2024.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to reveal the genetic diversity of Coxiella burnetii found in human clinical cases in Spain to increase knowledge of its basic and molecular epidemiology. Q fever is a globally zoonotic disease caused by C. burnetii, an intracellular gram-negative bacterium that demonstrates remarkable resilience to adverse environmental conditions. Spain has had the highest number of annually notified human cases since 2017; however, information on circulating genotypes in human infections is limited.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed samples from patients diagnosed with Q fever in Spain during 2012-2024. Coxiella burnetii genotypes were determined by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis.

RESULTS

Six different genotypes (SNP1-SNP3, SNP6, SNP8, and SNP9) were correctly identified in 52 out of 66 initially analyzed samples, revealing high genetic variability in human clinical samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Coxiella burnetii in Spain showed a high genetic variability in human clinical samples, revealing a possible geographical pattern between molecular variability and clinical signs, thus we can conclude that further research in other reservoir species such as livestock, wildlife and ticks is needed to clarify the molecular epidemiology of the bacterium.