Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis. Cattle, sheep and goats are considered the main reservoirs of the disease. Transmission to humans occurs mainly through the inhalation of infectious aerosols from milk, faeces, urine, and birth products from infected ruminants. In this study, a 2-year longitudinal approach was performed to ascertain the excretion of C. burnetii in bulk tank milk samples of sheep from a mountain plateau in central Portugal, with sampling conducted during the years 2015 and 2016. From a total of 156 bulk tank milk samples tested by qPCR, only one showed to be positive for C. burnetii (1.28% [95%CI: 0.03–6.94]), from 2015, the first year of collection. Bidirectional sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of IS1111 transposase partial region confirmed the presence of C. burnetii DNA. The presence of C. burnetii in raw milk samples highlights the necessity for additional research to determine if raw milk is a potential source for human infection. Animal health surveillance and prevention measures against this zoonotic disease should be considered.

伯内特立克克斯体是 Q 热的病原体，Q 热是一种世界范围的人畜共患病。牛、绵羊和山羊被认为是该病的主要宿主。人类传播主要是通过吸入受感染反刍动物的牛奶、粪便、尿液和产制品中的传染性气溶胶。在这项研究中，采用了为期 2 年的纵向方法，以确定葡萄牙中部山区高原绵羊散装罐奶样本中伯内特伯纳氏菌的排泄情况，采样于 2015 年和 2016 年进行。总共 156 个样本自 2015 年（收集的第一年）以来，通过 qPCR 检测散装罐牛奶样本，只有一个显示伯内特氏菌呈阳性（1.28% [95%CI: 0.03–6.94]）。 IS1111转座酶部分区域的双向测序和系统发育分析证实了C. burnetii DNA的存在。原奶样本中存在伯内特伯氏衣原体，这凸显了进行额外研究的必要性，以确定原奶是否是人类感染的潜在来源。应考虑针对这种人畜共患病的动物健康监测和预防措施。