TABLE 3.

Comparison of Coxiella burnetii shedding routes assessed by PCR with ELISA, IFA, and CFT serological profiles for aborting and nonaborting goats

Serological profilea	Shedding routeb	No. of goatsc
		Aborting				Nonaborting
		− −	+ +	+ −	− +	− −	+ +	+ −	− +
ELISA	Vaginal mucus	3	20	25	2	14	7	37	12
	Feces	1	6	26	1	9	4	24	4
	Milk	5	19	26	0	20	16	27	5
	Any route	3	33	12	2	10	21	23	16
IFA	Vaginal mucus	4	20	24	2	17	7	34	12
	Feces	2	6	25	1	12	4	21	4
	Milk	6	19	25	0	24	17	23	4
	Any route	4	33	11	2	14	22	19	15
CFT	Vaginal mucus	8	14	20	8	25	10	26	9
	Feces	9	4	18	3	15	4	18	4
	Milk	8	11	23	8	25	14	22	7
	Any route	4	23	11	12	18	21	15	16

^a−, seronegative at D15 and D30; +, other profiles (both positive results; seropositive or seronegative conversion).

^b−, samples tested PCR negative at D15 and D30; +, at least one PCR-positive sample was present.

^cThe first sign of the patterns “− −”, “+ +”, “+ −,” and “− +” corresponds to the serological profile obtained with the considered test, and the second sign corresponds to bacterial shedding through the considered route.