Q Fever

 Q fever  is a zoonosis caused by  Coxiella burnetii, an obligate gram-negative intracellular bacterium. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary reservoirs which were  infected. Transmission to humans occurs primarily through inhalation of aerosols from contaminated soil or animal waste. Other modes of transmission include tick bites, ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products, and human-to-human transmission etc.

 Consultation with an infectious diseases specialist is necessary, particularly in cases of suspected chronic Q fever. In addition, consult an internist for admission and management of patients who are immune compromised, elderly and In pregnant women, an obstetric consultation should also be considered. Special precautions should be taken inorder to maintain proper health conditions

 Twenty (34.5%) of 58 sera were found to have both polyvalent and immunoglobulin M antibodies to the phase II antigen of Coxiella burnetii by the IF test. Q fever pneumonia was present in 23 (39.7%) of 58 patients as determined by both the nested PCR and isolation and in 20 patients as determined by the IF test. The sensitivities for nested PCR and isolation were 100%, and that for the IF test was 87%.