Possible Sexual Transmission of Q Fever Among Humans

Abstract

Direct transmission of Q fever between persons who have been exposed to Coxiella burnetii and their family members has been hypothesized on the basis of the results of serological surveillance. We studied nine shepherds who were employed in Spain during the sheep shearing season. After they returned to Poland, Q fever was detected in these shepherds and their wives. The titers of serum antibodies to phase I C. burnetii antigens ranged from 0 to 64 in patients with Q fever and in their spouses, and the titer of serum antibodies to phase II antigens ranged from 0 to 1.024 in patients and their spouses. Other family members were seronegative for antibodies to C. burnetii. C. burnetii strains were isolated from urine and semen samples obtained from patients with Q fever. Attached bacteria have been detected in spermatozoal cells observed with use of scanning electron microscopy.

Q Fever in the United States: Summary of Case Reports from Two National Surveillance Systems, 2000–2012

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Inhalation of infectious organisms is widely recognized as the most prevalent route of exposure; transmission by ingestion of unpasteurized milk, tick bite, sexual contact, and transfusion of infected blood products have rarely been implicated in rare human infections. [10][11][12][13][14] Large outbreaks associated with inhalational exposure have occurred in slaughterhouses, auction yards, dairies, military units, laboratories, and households. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] In humans in the United States, acute Q fever most commonly presents as a flu-like illness, more rarely as hepatitis or pneumonia; asymptomatic infections have also been documented.…”

Epidemiology, Zoonotic Aspect and Current Epidemiological Situation of Q Fever in Poland

“…Moreover, scanning electron microscopy of www.intechopen.com A Bird's-Eye View of Veterinary Medicine 382 spermatozoa cells from patients with Q fever has revealed the presence of attached bacteria. (Kruszewska et al, 1993(Kruszewska et al, , 1996.…”

“…Q fever has spread worldwide both in humans and in animals (Kruszewska et al, 1996). Coxiella burnetii can infect many animal species including mammals, birds and arthropods such as ticks.…”

Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever in Brazil: its hidden role in seronegative arthritis and the importance of molecular diagnosis based on the repetitive element IS1111 associated with the transposase gene

“…At present, C. burnetii has only been isolated from urine, semen and bone marrow samples obtained from patients with Q fever (Kruszewska et al 1996, Maurin & Raoult 1999, Marmion et al 2005.…”