Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which is typically transmitted through contact with livestock, cats, dogs, birds, rodents, or ticks. It has an incubation period of around 20 days and can cause acute symptoms like fever, cough, and breathing difficulties, or develop into chronic Q fever which affects the heart, blood vessels, and bones. Treatment involves a combination of antibiotics like doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine. The disease is considered very infectious and a potential bioterrorism agent.

1. Q FeverQ Fever
Stephen FritcheyStephen Fritchey

2. Origin and SpreadOrigin and Spread
 Coxiella burnetii species of bacteriaCoxiella burnetii species of bacteria
 zoonotic diseasezoonotic disease
 transmitted by livestock, cats, dogs,transmitted by livestock, cats, dogs,
birds, rodents, andbirds, rodents, and
ticks, and is shedticks, and is shed
through birth products,through birth products,
feces, urine, and milk.feces, urine, and milk.

3. At RiskAt Risk
 Farmers, dairy workers,Farmers, dairy workers,
veterinarians, lab workers,veterinarians, lab workers,
and heart valveand heart valve
complications or immunecomplications or immune
system deficiencies.system deficiencies.

4. Incubation and SymptomsIncubation and Symptoms
 20 days20 days
 Chronic Q fever developing in those whoChronic Q fever developing in those who
have gone untreated for six months orhave gone untreated for six months or
more.more.
 Acute - painful breathing, shortness ofAcute - painful breathing, shortness of
breath, cough, headache, fever, musclebreath, cough, headache, fever, muscle
pains, jaundice, and clay-colored stoolspains, jaundice, and clay-colored stools
 Chronic - chills, night sweats, fatigue, andChronic - chills, night sweats, fatigue, and
prolonged feverprolonged fever
 A blood antibody test isA blood antibody test is
conducted to diagnose theconducted to diagnose the
disease.disease.

5. EffectsEffects
 Chronic Q fever can develop from one yearChronic Q fever can develop from one year
to 20 years after having acute Q feverto 20 years after having acute Q fever
even if symptoms were not present.even if symptoms were not present.
 Contract the disease multiple timesContract the disease multiple times
 Attack the circulatory andAttack the circulatory and
respiratory system,respiratory system,
inflammation of the heart’sinflammation of the heart’s
lining (chronic Q feverlining (chronic Q fever
endocaditis), blood vesselendocaditis), blood vessel
infections, rarely boneinfections, rarely bone
infections (osteomyelitis).infections (osteomyelitis).

6. 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 ofquarantine of imported livestock, use of
only pasteurized dairy products, andonly pasteurized dairy products, and
vaccination. (not become commerciallyvaccination. (not become commercially
available in the United States)available in the United States)
 The main treatment for QThe main treatment for Q
fever is with antibiotics,fever is with antibiotics,
with doxycycline utilizedwith doxycycline utilized
for treating acute Q feverfor treating acute Q fever
and a combination ofand a combination of
doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine fordoxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for
the chronic stage.the chronic stage.
doxycyclinedoxycycline

7. Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts
 Coxiella burnetti is considered theCoxiella burnetti is considered the
most infectious organism in themost infectious organism in the
worldworld
 Considered a threat for bioterrorism.Considered a threat for bioterrorism.
 A single organism can cause aA single organism can cause a
diseasedisease