Q fever.

Geddes, A. M.

doi:10.1136/bmj.287.6397.927

Cited by 18 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Q fever is a major world-wide zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular rickettsia Coxiella burnetii which affects a large variety of animals (Babudieri, 1959;Marrie, 1990a, b). In Britain, Q fever has been described as the most serious, and potentially chronic, zoonosis transmissible to humans through aerosol from domestic animals (Geddes, 1983). Q fever usually causes illness in humans, which ranges from mild influenza-like symptoms to subacute endocarditis, pneumonia, hepatitis and spontaneous abortion (Aitken, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) reservoir in wild brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in the UK

1995

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Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of Q fever in humans, was examined in wild brown rat populations from 4 Oxfordshire farmsteads (n = 127), 9 Somerset homesteads (n = 98), and 1 captive enclosure (n = 88) in the UK. Seroprevalence ranged between 7 and 53%, the lowest being within the captive population and the highest on dairy farmsteads with sheep present. This is the first reported investigation of C. burnetii in wild rats outside India. We suggest that the high seroprevalence among rats (i) provides evidence that wild rats constitute an important reservoir for C. burnetii in the UK, and (ii) explains why cats, as frequent predators of rats, are so important in the epidemiology of this disease.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) reservoir in wild brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in the UK

1995

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“…Prolonged therapy lasting up to 3 years or until antibody titers fall below an arbitrary value is recommended. Valve replacement has frequently been required (31,39,73 (14,28). Since most animals are asymptomatic and some may shed the organism despite being seronegative (32), it is difficult to screen for or eradicate infection in all of them (63).…”

Section: Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Q fever

Reimer

1993

Clin Microbiol Rev

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Q fever is an acute febrile illness first described in 1935 and now seen in many parts of the world. Human infection follows exposure to animals, especially domestic livestock. Recent outbreaks in metropolitan areas have implicated cats as the carrier of disease to humans. The etiologic agent, Coxiella burnetti, belongs to the family Rickettsiaceae, although it has distinct genetic characteristics and modes of transmission. Most recent attention has been focused on a number of large outbreaks of Q fever associated with medical research involving pregnant sheep. Although most infections are self-limited, some patients require prolonged treatment. Recent vaccines have had encouraging success in the prevention of disease in individuals at high risk of exposure.

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“…Human Q fever outbreaks are frequently reported (6,9,12,17,(21)(22)(23)(24)31), and the source of infection is mostly chronically infected animals (sheep, cattle) (1). Sporadic cases in humans in endemic areas have also been described (29).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary humoral antibody response to Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever

Guigno¹,

Coupland²,

Smith³

et al. 1992

J Clin Microbiol

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Of 147 patients with acute Q fever diagnosed during a major outbreak in Birmingham, England, in early summer 1989, 41 provided sets of sera which allowed us to make a detailed analysis of the primary humoral immune response. Antibody titers specific for CoxieUla burnetii were measured by the complement fixation test and by an immunoglobulin M (IgM)and IgG-specific indirect immunofluorescence test. The relative avidity of specific IgGs was determined by the indirect immunofluorescence test with and without treatment of antigen-antibody complexes with 8 M urea. The IgG subclass responses after primary infection and their avidities were also determined for a limited number of paired serum specimens. Specific IgM titers persisted for more than 6 months in the majority of cases and were therefore not a sufficient criterion for the diagnosis of recent infection. However, for serial samples the antibody titer ratios (IgG/IgM) and the ratios (IgG titer with treatment/IgG titer without treatment) that indicated relative avidity changed significantly, depending on the time postinfection. Within the IgG class, the C. burnetii-specific antibody response over time was almost

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Q fever.

Cited by 18 publications

References 8 publications

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) reservoir in wild brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in the UK

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) reservoir in wild brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in the UK

Q fever

Primary humoral antibody response to Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever

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