Q Fever - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Q Fever - Query fever

Q fever, also known as query fever, is  rickettsial disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii.

Q-fever is an acute febrile bacterial infection caused by Coxiella burnetti, it naturally infects some animals, particularly sheep, goats, and cattle. 

Bacteria Coxiella burnetti  are shed in the animal birth products; placenta, amniotic fluid or  urine, feces, and milk of infected animals.

Epidemiological Triad

Agent  - The causative agent of  Q-fever is caused by Coxiella burnetti.

 

Host – More risk occupation including- slaughterhouse, animal husbandry and animal research, laboratory  workers.

C. Burnetti bacteria is excreted into their milk, urine, faeces of infected animals.

In animal, this bacteria are also infect during birthing within amniotic fluid and placenta of animal.

 

Environment -  Warm weather with dry soils,

Most often people are exposed to infection the bacterium from the milk, urine and feces of infected animals.

And also inhalation or ingestion of the bacterium Coxiella burnetii cause risk of infection For example, by inhaling contaminated air in a barnyard;a  farmyard.

 

 

Incubation Period

 

The incubation period of Q fever is 2 to 3 weeks after exposure.

 

Mode of Transmission

 

1. Inhalation of Coxiella burnetti from contaminated dust

2. Ingestion of contaminated food

3. Sometime Infected Tick bites

 

Clinical Manifestation

 

1. High fever (104-105 degree F)

2. Severe headache

3. Malaise, Weight loss

4. Myalgia- muscle pain

5. Confusion

6. Sore throat

7. Chills and Sweats

8. Non-productive cough

9. Nausea, vomiting, Diarrhoea

10. Abdominal pain, Chest pain

 

Later on, can develop chronic Q fever endocarditis, hepatitis

 

Diagnostic Test

 

1. Blood for platelet count – person with Q- fever may show transient thrombocytopenia; abnormally low levels of platelets

2. Serological tests to detect antibodies

3. Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) test

 

 Treatment of Q fever

 

Q fever is treated with the antibiotic Doxycycline and Quinolone.

Chronic Q fever is treated with a combination of antibiotics including doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine drug.

 

Prevention and Control

 

1. Pasteurized milk

2. Vaccination- Given vaccine, who involve in research with pregnant sheep or live Coxiella burnetti.

3. Diagnostic test of animal for C. Burnetti on routine basis

4. Quarantine the imported animal

5. Proper dispose of animal birth product placenta, aborted fetus and fetal membranes of sheep and goat.

6. Autoclaving and washing of laboratory cloths

 

 

Scrub typhus is the most common rickettisial disease. This infection spread to people through bites of infected chiggers or larval mites.