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ABSTRACT

Q fever is a zoonotic bacterial infection which is found worldwide and is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. People at highest risk for this infection are farmers, laboratory workers, sheep and dairy workers, and veterinarians. Most cases are mild, yet some severe cases have been reported. It has increasingly been detected from foods of animal as well as tick vectors in many parts of the world. The clinical presentation of Q fever is polymorphic and nonspecifi c and may be acute or chronic and is diagnosed with a serological test. Doxycycline is the drug of choice for this disease. Vaccination with inactive whole-cell bacteria has been performed and proved eff ective in humans and animals. To reduce the spread of disease during an outbreak of Q fever, sanitary and preventative measures should be implemented at the herd and human levels.
Keywords: Bioweapon, Coxiella burnetii, occupational zoonoses, Q fever, vaccination