Coxiella burnetii
Quick Summary
Coxiella burnetii is a pathogenic bacterium that causes Q fever, an infection primarily affecting the respiratory system. While Coxiella burnetii belongs to the family Coxiellaceae, it is often discussed alongside rickettsias due to similarities in transmission and disease characteristics.1234
Q fever is widespread in domestic animals like cattle and sheep, and can be transmitted to humans through the inhalation of infected airborne particles from animal products such as urine, feces, placenta, or birth fluids. It can also be transmitted by tick bites or ingestion of contaminated milk. Symptoms in humans typically include fever, chills, headache, and pneumonia. While usually mild and self-limiting, Q fever can sometimes cause severe illness. It is treatable with antibiotics like tetracycline or doxycycline. Individuals working with livestock or in slaughterhouses are at higher risk of infection.152
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- Q fever
…disease caused by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii. Q fever spreads rapidly in cows, sheep, and goats, and in humans it tends to occur in localized outbreaks. The clinical symptoms are those of fever, chills, severe headache, and pneumonia. The disease is usually mild, and complications are rare. Treatment with
Read More…disease caused by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii. Q fever spreads rapidly in cows, sheep, and goats, and in humans it tends to occur in localized outbreaks. The clinical symptoms are those of fever, chills, severe headache, and pneumonia. The disease is usually mild, and complications are rare. Treatment with
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infectious diseaseRickettsiasExcept for Coxiella burnetii, the cause of Q fever, they are intracellular parasites, most of which are transmitted to humans by an arthropod carrier such as a louse or tick. C. burnetii, however, can survive in milk, sewage, and aerosols and can be transmitted to humans by…
Read MoreExcept for Coxiella burnetii, the cause of Q fever, they are intracellular parasites, most of which are transmitted to humans by an arthropod carrier such as a louse or tick. C. burnetii, however, can survive in milk, sewage, and aerosols and can be transmitted to humans by…
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