BACKGROUND:
Quilombola communities are afro-descendant rural communities formed by descendants of formerly enslaved people in Brazil, characterized by cultural ties, social exclusion, and barriers to accessing health services. These populations live in close contact with livestock and may be exposed to Q fever1. This study aimed to assess, for the first time, serological evidence of Q fever and associated risk factors in quilombola communities from Southern Brazil.

METHODS:
The study was conducted in four communities located in rural areas of Castro, Paraná state. Serum samples were collected from 200 individuals and 20 dogs. Human and canine samples were tested for anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA)2. Participants answered structured epidemiological questionnaires addressing sociodemographic characteristics, occupational exposure, dietary habits, and clinical data. Statistical associations between seropositivity and exposure variables were evaluated using Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression.

RESULTS:
Antibodies were detected in 22% of humans, and only one dog was seropositive. Seropositivity was statistically associated with specific communities (p = 0.0013), occupations related to livestock farming (p = 0.0475), consumption of undercooked meat (p = 0.0159), and contact with animal abortions (p = 0.0276). No associations were observed with age, sex, educational level, exposure to the forest, consumption of raw milk, tick bites, or dog ownership.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides the first evidence of exposure to C. burnetii in quilombola communities in Brazil. Q fever is a neglected zoonosis in the country and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations3. These findings reinforce the need for surveillance strategies tailored to the social and territorial context of quilombola communities.