Q FeverQ FeverStephen FritcheyStephen Fritchey

Origin and SpreadOrigin and Spread

Coxiella burnetii species of bacteriaCoxiella burnetii species of bacteria

zoonotic disease zoonotic disease

transmitted by livestock, cats, dogs, transmitted by livestock, cats, dogs, birds, rodents, and birds, rodents, and ticks, and is shed ticks, and is shed through birth products, through birth products, feces, urine, and milk. feces, urine, and milk.

At RiskAt Risk Farmers, dairy workers, Farmers, dairy workers,

veterinarians, lab workers, veterinarians, lab workers, and heart valve and heart valve complications or immune complications or immune system deficiencies. system deficiencies.

Incubation and SymptomsIncubation and Symptoms 20 days20 days Chronic Q fever developing in those who Chronic Q fever developing in those who

have gone untreated for six months or have gone untreated for six months or more. more.

Acute - painful breathing, shortness of Acute - painful breathing, shortness of breath, cough, headache, fever, muscle breath, cough, headache, fever, muscle pains, jaundice, and clay-colored stoolspains, jaundice, and clay-colored stools

Chronic - chills, night sweats, fatigue, and Chronic - chills, night sweats, fatigue, and prolonged feverprolonged fever

A blood antibody test is A blood antibody test is conducted to diagnose the conducted to diagnose the disease. disease.

EffectsEffects

Chronic Q fever can develop from one year Chronic Q fever can develop from one year to 20 years after having acute Q fever to 20 years after having acute Q fever even if symptoms were not present.even if symptoms were not present.

Contract the disease multiple times Contract the disease multiple times Attack the circulatory and Attack the circulatory and

respiratory system, respiratory system, inflammation of the heart’s inflammation of the heart’s lining (chronic Q fever lining (chronic Q fever endocaditis), blood vessel endocaditis), blood vessel infections, rarely bone infections, rarely bone infections (osteomyelitis). infections (osteomyelitis).

TreatmentTreatment

Proper disposal of animal birth products, Proper disposal of animal birth products, restricted access to barns and labs, restricted access to barns and labs, quarantine of imported livestock, use of quarantine of imported livestock, use of only pasteurized dairy products, and only pasteurized dairy products, and vaccination. (not become commercially vaccination. (not become commercially available in the United States)available in the United States)

The main treatment for Q The main treatment for Q fever is with antibiotics, fever is with antibiotics, with doxycycline utilized with doxycycline utilized for treating acute Q fever for treating acute Q fever and a combination of and a combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for the chronic stage. the chronic stage.

doxycyclinedoxycycline

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Coxiella burnetti is considered the Coxiella burnetti is considered the most infectious organism in the most infectious organism in the world world

Considered a threat for bioterrorism.Considered a threat for bioterrorism. A single organism can cause a A single organism can cause a

disease disease