Q fever

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Marrie
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Susceptible Animal ◽  
Animal Models Of Disease ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Models Of Disease ◽  
In Pregnancy

Q fever is a wide spread illness affecting wild and domestic animals and man. The etiological agent Coxiella burnetii, has both a wild life and domestic animal cycle. In mammals, infection localizes to the endometrium and the mammary glands. The organism is reactivated during pregnancy reaching high concentrations in the placenta. At the time of parturition the organism is aerosolized. Inhalation of Coxiella burnetii by a susceptible animal results in Q fever. In man, Q fever may be acute (self limited febrile illness, pneumonia, hepatitis) or chronic (mostly endocarditis, but also osteomyelitis, endovascular infection, hepatitis [can be both acute and chronic] and Q fever in pregnancy). Abortion and stillbirth are manifestations of Q fever in domestic animals and in animal models of disease (such as a mouse model of Q fever in pregnancy ). A vaccine is available for abattoir workers, veterinarians and others at high risk for acquiring Q fever.

scholarly journals Coxiella burnetii Intratracheal Aerosol Infection Model in Mice, Guinea Pigs, and Nonhuman Primates

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Gregory ◽  
E. J. van Schaik ◽  
K. E. Russell-Lodrigue ◽  
A. P. Fratzke ◽  
J. E. Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Cell Vaccine ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Atypical Pneumonia ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q fever, is a Gram-negative bacterium transmitted to humans by inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Acute Q fever is often self-limiting, presenting as a febrile illness that can result in atypical pneumonia. In some cases, Q fever becomes chronic, leading to endocarditis that can be life threatening. The formalin-inactivated whole-cell vaccine (WCV) confers long-term protection but has significant side effects when administered to presensitized individuals. Designing new vaccines against C. burnetii remains a challenge and requires the use of clinically relevant modes of transmission in appropriate animal models. We have developed a safe and reproducible C. burnetii aerosol challenge in three different animal models to evaluate the effects of pulmonary acquired infection. Using a MicroSprayer aerosolizer, BL/6 mice and Hartley guinea pigs were infected intratracheally with C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI) and demonstrated susceptibility as determined by measuring bacterial growth in the lungs and subsequent dissemination to the spleen. Histological analysis of lung tissue showed significant pathology associated with disease, which was more severe in guinea pigs. Infection using large-particle aerosol (LPA) delivery was further confirmed in nonhuman primates, which developed fever and pneumonia. We also demonstrate that vaccinating mice and guinea pigs with WCV prior to LPA challenge is capable of eliciting protective immunity that significantly reduces splenomegaly and the bacterial burden in spleen and lung tissues. These data suggest that these models can have appreciable value in using the LPA delivery system to study pulmonary Q fever pathogenesis as well as designing vaccine countermeasures to C. burnetii aerosol transmission.

scholarly journals The prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in ticks and animals in Slovenia

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataša Knap ◽  
Diana Žele ◽  
Urška Glinšek Biškup ◽  
Tatjana Avšič-Županc ◽  
Gorazd Vengušt
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Animal Blood ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pathogen Dna

Abstract Background The obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii causes globally distributed zoonotic Q fever. Ruminant livestock are common reservoirs of C. burnetii. Coxiella burnetii are shed in large numbers in the waste of infected animals and are transmitted by inhalation of contaminated aerosols. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in domestic animals and ticks in areas of Slovenia associated with a history of Q fever outbreaks. Results A total of 701 ticks were collected and identified from vegetation, domestic animals and wild animals. C. burnetii DNA was detected in 17 out of 701 (2.4%) ticks. No C. burnetii DNA was found in male ticks. Ticks that tested positive in the PCR-based assay were most commonly sampled from wild deer (5.09%), followed by ticks collected from domestic animals (1.16%) and ticks collected by flagging vegetation (0.79%). Additionally, 150 animal blood samples were investigated for the presence of C. burnetii-specific antibodies and pathogen DNA. The presence of pathogen DNA was confirmed in 14 out of 150 (9.3%) blood samples, while specific antibodies were detected in sera from 60 out of 150 (40.4%) animals. Conclusions Our results indicate that ticks, although not the primary source of the bacteria, are infected with C. burnetii and may represent a potential source of infection for humans and animals. Ticks collected from animals were most likely found to harbor C. burnetii DNA, and the infection was not lost during molting. The persistence and distribution of pathogens in cattle and sheep indicates that C. burnetii is constantly present in Slovenia.

scholarly journals Coxiella burnetii is widespread in ticks (Ixodidae) in the Xinjiang border areas of China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Ni ◽  
Hanliang Lin ◽  
Xiaofeng Xu ◽  
Qiaoyun Ren ◽  
Malike Aizezi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rate ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Haemaphysalis Punctata ◽  
Border Areas ◽  
Hyalomma Rufipes

Abstract Background The gram-negative Coxiella burnetii bacterium is the pathogen that causes Q fever. The bacterium is transmitted to animals via ticks and can cause infection in domestic animals, wild animals, and humans. As the provincial-level administrative region with the largest land area in China, Xinjiang has many endemic tick species; however, the distribution of C. burnetii in ticks in Xinjiang border areas has not been studied in detail.Results For the current study, 1507 ticks were collected from livestock at 22 sampling sites in ten border regions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region from 2018 to 2019. C. burnetii was detected in 205/348 (58.91%) Dermacentor nuttalli ; in 110/146 (75.34%) Dermacentor pavlovskyi ; in 66/80 (82.50%) Dermacentor silvarum ; in 15/32 (46.90%) Dermacentor niveus ; in 28/132 (21.21%) Hyalomma rufipes ; in 24/25 (96.00%) Hyalomma anatolicum ; in 219/312 (70.19%) Hyalomma asiaticum ; in 252/338 (74.56%) Rhipicephalus sanguineus ; and in 54/92 (58.70%) Haemaphysalis punctata . Among these samples, C. burnetii was detected in D. pavlovskyi for the first time. The infection rate of R. sanguineus was 74.56% (252/338), which was the highest among the four tick genera sampled, whereas the infection rate of H. anatolicum was 96% (24/25), which was the highest among the nine tick species sampled. A sequence analysis indicated that 63 16S rRNA sequences could be found in four newly established genotypes: CXJ-1 (n = 18), CXJ-2 (n = 33), CXJ-3 (n = 6), and CXJ-4 (n = 6).Conclusions This study indicates that CXJ-2 might represent the main C. burnetii genotype in the ticks in Xinjiang because it was detected in eight of the tick species studied. The high infection rate of C. burnetii detected in the ticks found in domestic animals may indicate a high likelihood of Q fever infection in both domestic animals and humans.

scholarly journals Immunomodulatory Properties of Polyphenol-Rich Sugarcane Extract on Human Monocytes

Biologics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-221
Author(s):  
Jack Feehan ◽  
Monica D. Prakash ◽  
Lily Stojanovska ◽  
Matthew Roland Flavel ◽  
Barry Kitchen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Monocyte ◽  
Immunomodulatory Effect ◽  
Plant Polyphenols ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Animal Models Of Disease ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Immunomodulatory Properties ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Models Of Disease

As inflammatory lifestyle factors become more prevalent and as the population ages, the management of inflammation will become increasingly relevant. Plant polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that are known to have beneficial effects in a number of diseases with an inflammatory or oxidative component, such as malignancy, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. Polyphenol-rich sugarcane extract (PRSE) is a novel preparation with high concentrations of polyphenolic antioxidants, with some evidence to show benefits in health, but there is limited research investigating its effects on immunomodulation. This study determined the effects of PRSE on human monocyte cells in vitro. We show that PRSE has an immunomodulatory effect in U937 human monocyte cells, altering the expression of cellular surface markers, with an increased expression of CD16 and CD11b, as well as small changes in CD40, CD80, CD80, CD206 and MHCI. It also modulates the profile of secreted cytokines, increasing IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-4 and IL-10. These changes are consistent with the advanced differentiation of the monocyte, as well as the switch from the M1 to M2 phenotype in macrophages. We also demonstrate that this effect is likely to be independent of the NF-κB signalling pathway, suggesting that other mechanisms drive this effect. PRSE exerts an immunomodulatory effect on U937 monocytes in vitro, potentially facilitating the conversion from inflammation to healing. Future studies should identify specific mechanisms underlying the changes and evaluate their effectiveness in animal models of disease.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii infection in aborted samples of domestic ruminants in Iran

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250116
Author(s):  
Ashraf Mohabati Mobarez ◽  
Mohammad Khalili ◽  
Ehsan Mostafavi ◽  
Saber Esmaeili
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Domestic Ruminant ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Pcr Targeting ◽  
Different Parts

Background Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever which is a highly infectious zoonotic disease. C. burnetii has become one of the most important causes of abortion in livestock, which can lead to widespread abortions in these animals. There are very limited studies on the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in cases of animal abortion in Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of C. burnetii in ruminant abortion samples in Iran. Methods Abortion samples from cattle, sheep and goats were collected from different parts of Iran and were tested using Real-time PCR targeting the IS1111 element of C. burnetii. Results In this study, 36 samples (24.7%) of the 146 collected samples were positive for C. burnetii. The prevalence of C. burnetii was 21.3% (20 of 94 samples) in sheep samples. Also, 10 of 46 cattle samples (21.7%) were positive. All six goat abortion samples were positive for C. burnetii. Conclusions The findings of the study demonstrate that C. burnetii plays an important role in domestic ruminant abortions in Iran, suggesting that more attention should be paid to the role of C. burnetii in domestic animal abortions by veterinary organizations. The risk of transmitting the infection to humans due to abortion of animals should also be considered.

scholarly journals Outbreak of Q fever in Lohra-Rollshausen, Germany, spring 1996

1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Lyytikaïnen ◽  
T Ziese ◽  
B Schwartländer ◽  
P Matzdorff ◽  
C Kuhnhen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Animal Reservoirs

Q fever is an acute (and sometimes chronic) febrile illness caused by the rickettsial organism Coxiella burnetii. The commonest animal reservoirs for C. burnetiiare cattle, sheep, and goats. Infected animals shed the organisms, which resist desiccation, i

Acute Q fever in third trimester pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. e242558
Author(s):  
Maxwell Braddick ◽  
Marion L Woods ◽  
Suji Prabhaharan
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Drug Intolerance ◽  
Trimester Pregnancy ◽  
Acute Q Fever ◽  
In Pregnancy

A 29-year-old gravida 2 para 1 woman presented at 29 weeks gestation with fevers, back pain, thrombocytopenia and hepatitis. PCR testing of blood samples detected Coxiella burnetii and paired serology later confirmed the diagnosis of acute Q fever in pregnancy. The patient was treated empirically with oral clarithromycin and experienced a symptomatic and biochemical improvement. Therapy was changed to oral trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole but was complicated by a delayed cutaneous reaction, prompting recommencement of clarithromycin. Therapy continued until delivery of a healthy girl at 39 weeks and 3 days. Q fever in pregnancy is likely under-reported and is associated with the development of chronic infection and obstetric complications. Treatment with clarithromycin is an alternative to trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole in the setting of drug intolerance.

Coxiella burnetii infections (Q fever)

2020 ◽  
pp. 1257-1262
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Marrie
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Mammary Glands ◽  
Serological Testing ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
The Common ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Rats And Mice ◽  
Animal Reservoirs ◽  
Very High

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular Gram-negative spore-forming bacterium, the common animal reservoirs of which are cattle, sheep, and goats. Rats and mice have been implicated as reservoirs in some areas. In French Guiana the three-toed sloth is the reservoir. C. burnetti is trophic for the endometrium and mammary glands of female animals, and during pregnancy the organism reaches very high concentrations in the placenta such that at the time of parturition organisms are aerosolized and contamination of the environment occurs. Inhalation of even one microorganism can result in infection. Diagnosis is confirmed by serological testing: in acute disease antibodies to phase II antigen are higher than those to phase I, whereas the reverse is true in chronic disease.

Q fever in China: a systematic review, 1989–2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. EL-MAHALLAWY ◽  
G. LU ◽  
P. KELLY ◽  
D. XU ◽  
Y. LI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Northern Areas

SUMMARYQ fever, first described in 1937, is a worldwide zoonosis caused byCoxiella burnetiithat has long been considered an under-reported and under-diagnosed illness. In China, the disease was initially reported in 1950 and in the last 25 years (1989–2013) there have been 29 reports on Q fever in China, nearly half of which were in the last 5 years. These publications have largely been in Chinese and in this review we summarize their findings to enable a better understanding of Q fever in China. The overall prevalence ofC. burnetiiinfections in the reports is 10% (1139/11 209) in people, 15% (288/1918) in cattle and 12% (176/1440) in goats. These infections occurred widely in China with positive people and/or animals reported in 64 cities/municipalities from 19 provinces, particularly those in the eastern, western and northern areas. Cattle and goats had the highest seroprevalences of all the domestic animals studied and a wide variety of ticks were found to be infected. Mice were also commonly infected and had high copy numbers ofC. burnetiiDNA, suggesting they might be important in the epidemiology of Q fever in China.

scholarly journals C. burnetii Shedding Study In Domestic Animals in Georgia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Nikolaishvili
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Milk Sample ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Animal Blood ◽  
The Third ◽  
Seropositive Animal

ObjectiveQ fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.One of the main goal of the project was shedding study in domestic animals – isolation of C. burnetii from suspected seropositive animal blood, milk samples.IntroductionQ fever is a zoonotic bacterial disease resulting from infection by Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) are considered the main reservoir for the pathogen, which can also infect humans. Q fever is poorly understood in Georgia and its prevalence is largely underestimated in both humans and animals.In Georgia Q fever laboratory diagnostic was started and implemented at the Laboratory of the Ministry of Georgia (LMA) within GG20 ,,Prevalence, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Laboratory Analysis of Coxiella burnetii in Georgia’’.MethodsLMA conducted Coxiella burnetii shedding evaluation in three specific farms from Kvemo Kartli (Tsalka, Dmanisi) and Mtskheta-Mtianeti (Dusheti). Seropositive cattle and small ruminants were sampled per week. Sampling lasted 7 weeks and totally 581 samples samples (blood, milk and swab) were tested. Testing were conducted in a BSL3 laboratory under BSL3 working conditions. ACCM medium was used (2XACCm-2 acidified Citrate Cysteine Medium PH-4.75G N NaOH). The samples were incubated at 37°C using CO2.ResultsAs a result of the study, one culture was bacteriologically isolated from seropositive cattle milk sample ( the sample was taken on the third week of the study in Beshtasheni farm, Tslka, Kvemo Kartli) and confirmed by Molecular biology (PCR).ConclusionsThe study confirmed Q fever existence in Georgia. Traditionally considered an obligate intracellular agent, the requirement to be grown in tissue culture cells, embryonated eggs, or animal hosts has made it difficult to isolate C. Burnetii strains. Within the study one culture was isolated from the seropositive animal milk sample that was collected in the third week of the study. shedding of Coxiella burnetii in milk by infected cows appeared to be the most frequent positive sample for the bacterium. 

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