Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathogen

• Coxiella burnetii (gram-negative, intracellular)
  • Morphological similarities to Rickettsia
  • Can survive in harsh environments in a spore-like form

Route of transmission

• Direct infection (no vector transmission)
• Vector transmission: primary reservoir are cattle, sheep, and goats
  • Inhalation of spore-containing aerosols from the amniotic fluid or secretions of infected livestock
  • Ingestion of raw milk produced by infected animals

Risk groups

• Slaughterhouse workers, farmers, shepherds, veterinarians

Pathophysiology

Clinical features

• Flu-like symptoms, which last for 1–2 weeks
  • High-grade fever, chills, malaise, myalgia
  • Headache, retroorbital pain, photophobia
• Atypical pneumonia: generally mild with nonproductive cough and fever
• Hepatitis, possibly

Diagnostics

Treatment