One Health Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Coxiella burnetii among Dairy Farm Workers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

BackgroundQ fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a globally distributed zoonosis with significant occupational health implications. Although endemic infection has been documented in dairy cattle in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (EAD), UAE, country-specific data on human exposure in dairy production systems have been lacking. This study aimed to assess concurrent serological evidence of C. burnetii exposure in cattle and occupationally exposed farm workers using a One Health framework.MethodsA pilot cross-sectional study was conducted on two commercial dairy farms in the EAD. Blood samples were collected from 400 randomly selected cattle (200 per farm) and 67 workers (Farm 1: n=50; Farm 2: n=17). Bovine sera were tested for anti-C. burnetii IgG using indirect ELISA. Human sera were screened for Phase 2 IgM, Phase 2 IgG, and Phase 1 IgG antibodies using commercial ELISA kits. Seroprevalence was compared between farms and across occupational categories.ResultsCattle seroprevalence was comparable between farms (31.0% and 29.0%), indicating sustained endemic circulation. Overall worker seroprevalence was 38.8%, with higher exposure at Farm 2 (58.8%) than Farm 1 (32.0%). Phase-specific antibody profiles suggested recent exposure in 7.5% of workers, subacute infection in 16.4%, and markers compatible with chronic infection in 14.9%. Seropositivity clustered among personnel with direct and frequent cattle contact, particularly those engaged in milking, reproductive management, hoof trimming, and close-contact animal handling, while workers in indirect roles were largely seronegative.ConclusionsThis study provides the first evidence of occupational exposure to C. burnetii among dairy farm workers in the UAE and demonstrates active zoonotic transmission within intensive dairy systems. Integrated One Health surveillance, strengthened farm-level biosecurity, and targeted occupational health interventions are warranted to mitigate transmission risk.