Q FEVER Flashcards
agent
coxiella burnetti
moa
breathing in dust that has been contaminated by infected animal feces, urine, milk, and birth products, cow hide inhaling
fluids of animals, genetial secretions, semen, feces
slaughtering /butchering infected animal
rarely from a tick bite
unpasteurized milk - milk cheese because of the spores which
vertical transmission
people at risk for infection
workers with animal,s farmers
which animals get infected
cattle, goat sheep cow
complication
chronic q fever, months/years after infection develop endocarditis, happens in <5% patients can be quite difficult because its a culture negative endocarditis found mostly in immunocomprimised or people with valvule defects, in chronic phase fever not so prominent. the aortic valve is most commonly affected
post q fever fatigue syndrome
severe fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias
symptoms
flu like symptoms and a pneumonia that is similar to that of mycoplasma pneumonia
types of disease
acute - hepatitis and endocarditis can occur too but the disease is usually a self limiting disease
chronic- endocarditis or hepatitis
acute disease
flu like so respiratory system involved, and interstitial pneumonitis similar two that of m.pneumonia rarely liver is involved . women increased risk of spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery
hepatitis- increased enzymes
liver granulomas - biopsy ‘doughnut like’
pneumonia
endocarditis , pericarditis
can humans transmit the disease
rarely like sexually
IP
2-3 WEEKS
epi
found worldwide but not in new zealand, quits rare (bio terrorism)
prognosis
if its just flu like usually has a benign cause and self limiting
diagnosis and best option
highly infectious so need extra measures a bio safety lab
best option : indirect immunofluorescent assay
very difficult to culture it
serology
phase 2 ab= acute phase
phase 1 ab- chronic phase
treatment
doxycycline but cant use in pregs or kids under 8?
chronic : notoriously difficult to treat a combo of doxy and hydroxychloroquine for 18 months ( i think this is just chronic but in acute doxy by itself is fine
prophlaxis
there is a vaccine for animal handlers
pasteurization
The Q fever vaccine (Q-VAX®) has been licensed for use in Australia since 1989 and has shown to be highly effective in preventing Q fever infection in humans. Since the introduction of the vaccination for high- risk occupations, the rates of Q fever infection have dropped markedly
