bovis - Articles
Coxiella burnetii
Synonym(s): C. burnetii, Q fever, Coxiellosis
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Family: Rickettsiaceae.
- Genus: Coxiella.
- Species: burnetii.
Etymology
- Research into identifying and characterizing Q fever, and its causative agent Coxiella burnetii, was performed independently by scientists in Australia and the USA in the 1930s.
- Coxiella: named after Herald Rea Cox who, in collaboration with Gordon Davis at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory, USA, first isolated the causative agent of an undiagnosed febrile illness in guinea pigs.
- Burnetii: named after Frank MacFarlane Burnet who first studied the properties of the organism following an outbreak of undiagnosed febrile illness in abattoir workers in Brisbane, Australia.
Distribution
- Domestic ruminants are considered to be the major source of C. burnetii.
- Reservoir hosts include multiple domestic and wild animal species, birds, and arthropods. Biting ectoparasitic arthropods such as ticks Ticks: overview likely play a role in spread of the infection, especially in the sylvan setting.
- World-wide distribution, with the exception of New Zealand.
Significance
- C. burnetii is the causative agent of Query fever (Q fever) Q fever also known as Coxiellosis.
- Q fever is a zoonotic disease (it can be passed from animals to humans).
- Disease is often asymptomatic in cattle. In clinical disease reduced fertility performance, abortions Abortion and stillbirths: overview, infertility, premature births, weak calf syndrome Weak calf syndrome, metritis, still births and mastitis Mastitis: approach to the cow with acute mastitis may be seen.
Active Forms
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Resting Forms
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Clinical Effects
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Diagnosis
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Pexara A, Solomakos N & Govaris A (2018) Q fever and seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in domestic ruminants. Veterinaria Italiana 54 (4), 265-279 PubMed.
- Ryan E D, Wrigley K, Hallinan A, McGrath G & Clegg T A (2018) Antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in Irish bulk tank milk samples. Vet Rec 182 (19) 550 PubMed.
- Chisnall T L T (2017) Variance of Coxiella burnetii strains in bulk tank milk samples and associated Q fever exposure in veterinary undergraduates. Cattle Practice 25 (3), 167-168 PubMed.
- Van Engelen E, Schotten N, Schimmer B et al (2014) Prevalence and risk factors for Coxiella burnetti (Q fever) in Dutch dairy cattle herds based on bulk milk testing. Preventative Vet Med (117), 102-109 PubMed.
- Garcia-Ispierto I, utusaus T & Lo´pez-Gatius F (2014) Does Coxiella burnetii affect reproduction in cattle? A clinical update. Reprod Dom Anim (49), 529–535 PubMed.
- Saegerman C, Speybroeck N, Dal Pozzo F & Czaplicki G (2012) Clinical indicators of exposure to Coxiella burnetii in dairy herds. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases (62) 46–5446 PubMed.
- Valergakis G E, Russell C et al (2012) Coxiella burnetii in bulk tank milk of dairy cattle in south-west England. Vet Rec (171) 156 PubMed.
- Alvarez A, Perez A, Mardones F O et al (2012) Epidemiological factors associated with the exposure of cattle to Coxiella burnetii in the Madrid region of Spain. Vet J (194) 102-1-7 PubMed.
- Cooper A, Hedlefs R, McGowan M, Ketheesana N & Govana B (2011) Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in beef cattle in Queensland. Aust Vet J 7 (89), 260-264 PubMed.
- Guatteo R, Seegers H, Frieda Taural A, Joly A & Beaudeau F (2011) Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in domestic ruminants: A critical review. Vet Microbiol (149) 1-16 PubMed.
- Pritchard G C, Smith R P, Errington J, Hannon S, Jones R M & Mearns R (2011) Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in livestock abortion material using PCR. Vet Rec (169), 391 PubMed.
- Ryan E D, Kirby M, Collins D M et al (2011) Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) antibodies in bovine serum and bulk-milk samples. Epidemiol Infect (139), 1413–1417 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- SRUC (online) Q fever facts. Website: https://www.sruc.ac.uk.
Organisation(s)
- European Food Standards Authority (2010) Scientific Opinion on Q fever1 EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)2,3 EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) 2,3 (Chapter 4 on Food Safety). EFSA Journal 2010, 8 (5), 1595.