Changing Epidemiology of Q Fever in Germany, 1947-1999

Hellenbrand, Wiebke; Breuer, Thomas; Petersen, Lyle R.

doi:10.3201/eid0705.010004

Cited by 53 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The largest previously described outbreak occurred in 2003, associated with a farmers' market in Soest [5]. Infected sheep have been implicated as the source of infection in 24 out of 40 documented outbreaks reported in Germany between 1947 and 1999 [6]. Epidemiological investigation of outbreaks has important implications for identifying means of prevention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Q fever outbreak due to sheep farming near residential areas, Germany, 2005

Gilsdorf¹,

Kroh²,

Grimm³

et al. 2007

Epidemiol. Infect.

109

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SUMMARYIn June 2005 Coxiella burnetii-infected sheep, grazing and lambing on a meadow bordering a residential area, caused a large Q fever outbreak (331 cases) in Germany. Our outbreak investigation provided attack rates (AR) by distance between residence and meadow, sex and age groups. The AR of people living within 50 m of the meadow was 11 . 8%. It decreased the further the residence was from the meadow, falling to 1 . 3% at 350-400 m distance (RR 8 . 7, 95 % CI 4 . 5-17 . 1). The AR was higher in men (RR 1 . 4, 95 % CI 1 . 1-1 . 8). In the 25-64 years age group, the AR was 2 . 3 times higher compared to other age groups (95 % CI 1 . 7-3 . 0). The distance-related AR showed a relationship between risk of infection and living close to the meadow. Ongoing urbanization will probably lead to further Q fever outbreaks, hence prevention activities undertaken by animal and public health practitioners should be aligned and strengthened.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large Q fever outbreak due to sheep farming near residential areas, Germany, 2005

Gilsdorf¹,

Kroh²,

Grimm³

et al. 2007

Epidemiol. Infect.

109

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“…Transmission of C. burnetii is mostly associated with abortion of domestic ruminants and particularly with ovine abortions. Several authors have described a seasonal variation in the incidence of the human disease in the spring and early summer which has been attributed to spring lambing and shearing leading to environmental contamination [58,166]. Indeed, direct contact with aborted females is not required.…”

Section: Zoonotic Aspectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most recent cases of Q fever have been described in Australia [50,148,186], Canada [87,94], France [125,165], Germany [58], Japan [160], Spain [34,135], Switzerland and the United Kingdom [117]. Little information is available to explain such an increase of cases of Q fever except perhaps in Bulgaria where the rise of the number of goats that daily go through villages and small towns for grazing is associated with an increase in human Q fever [141].…”

Section: Zoonotic Aspectmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Q Fever an emerging or re-emerging zoonosis?

2005

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-Q fever is a zoonotic disease considered as emerging or re-emerging in many countries. It is caused by Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium developing spore-like forms that are highly resistant to the environment. The most common animal reservoirs are livestock and the main source of infection is by inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Although the culture process for Coxiella is laborious, advances on the knowledge of the life cycle of the bacterium have been made. New tools have been developed to (i) improve the diagnosis of Q fever in humans and animals, and especially animal shedders, (ii) perform epidemiological studies, and (iii) prevent the disease through the use of vaccines. This review summarizes the state of the knowledge on the bacteriology and clinical manifestations of Q fever as well as its diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment and prevention in order to understand what factors are responsible for its emergence or re-emergence. Coxiella burnetii / epidemiology / bacteriology / diagnostic / control

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“…Dies kann eine niedrige Inzidenz aufgrund hoher Qualität der Wasseraufbereitung widerspiegeln, aber auch daran liegen, dass wasserbürtige Infektionen oft nicht als solche erkannt werden. Untersuchungen der letzten Jahre zeigen jedoch, dass Ausbrüche durch Cryptosporidium parvum [29] und Giardia lamblia [30] [43].…”

Section: Kryptosporidiose Und Giardiasisunclassified