Coxiella Flashcards
1
Q
C. burnetii
A
- GN
- highly resistant to environmental stresses (ex: high temp, osmotic pressure, UV light)
- obligate intracellular pathogen
2
Q
Q fever
A
C. burnetii
- zoonotic bacterial infection associated with parturient ruminants
- domestic animals (cats) could also be sources of human infection
3
Q
_____, ____, and _____ are the most common domestic animal reservoirs
A
Sheep, goats, and cattle
- serves as a source of infection for humans
4
Q
Infection
A
Results from inhalation of a spore-like small cell variant
- from contact with milk, urine, feces, vaginal mucus, or semen of infected animals
- disease is rarely tick borne
5
Q
C. burnetii resides in _____
A
Acidified phagolysosomes of host monocytes and macrophages
6
Q
2 forms
A
- large cell variant is a vegetative form found in infected cells
- small cell variant is the extracellular infectious form shed in milk, urine, and feces
- -> resistant to heat, drying, common disinfectants, remains viable for weeks to years in the envioronment
7
Q
Agent becomes localized in the ______ and _______
A
Mammary glands and placenta of infected ruminants
8
Q
Pasteurization of milk prevents what 2 bacterium from colonizing?
A
- mycobacterium bovis
- coxiella burnetii
9
Q
Transmission
A
Persist in contaminated soil and transported long distances on dust particles
- some windborne outbreaks have been documented
- also passed in milk and people who consume non-pasteruized milk
10
Q
Clinical findings
A
- abortion
- stillbirth
- endometritis
- placentitis
- fetal pneumonia in goats and cattle
11
Q
Diagnosis
A
- Ziehl-Neelsen or Gimenez stain: identifies organism in exudates or areas of inflammation
- PCR
- indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme liked immunosorbent assy (ELISA), complement fixation
- isolated in cell cultures, embryonated chicken eggs, or lab animals (is more dangerous, rarely used)
12
Q
Treatment
A
Long acting injectable tetracyclines
- chronic form is more difficult to treat, may require 4 years of antibiotics
