Epidemiology and public health implications of Q fever
Zoonotic diseases remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Q fever is considered as an emerging and re-emerging zoonosis of global concern. Disease is caused by Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular, Gram negative organism, which is prevalent throughout the worl...
| Published in: | Perspectives In Medical Research |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences
2016-12-01
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pimr.org.in/Hadush-issue-3.PDF |
| Summary: | Zoonotic diseases remain a significant cause of
morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Q fever is
considered as an emerging and re-emerging zoonosis of global
concern. Disease is caused by Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular,
Gram negative organism, which is prevalent throughout the
world. Despite the fact that Q fever is important from public
health and economic point of view, it remains poorly reported
and its surveillance is mostly neglected. It has extensive
reservoirs that include mammals, birds, and arthropods, mainly
the ticks. Domestic ruminants are considered as the main
reservoirs for the pathogen, which can infect wide range of
hosts. Coxiella burnetii can cause reproductive problems in
domestic animals. During an abortion in animal, about 1 billion
C. burnetii per gram of placenta are excreted. Different mode
of transmission is observed in Q fever. Disease outbreaks have
been associated with slaughterhouses, farms, and institutions
with intensive sheep rearing programs. The clinical
manifestations of Q fever range from no symptoms to
pneumonia, hepatitis, and endocarditis. Because the clinical
signs of Q fever are nonspecific, laboratory evidence of
infection is needed for making an unequivocal diagnosis. A
number of antibiotics such as doxycycline, erythromycin, and
clarithromycin are helpful in the treatment of patient. Fatality
rate in untreated patients is high. Since human-to-human
transmission is extremely rare and Q fever is mainly an airborne
disease, measures of prevention are aimed at avoiding the
exposure of humans and particularly persons at risk, to animal
and environmental contamination. Therefore, improvements
in surveillance, such as increasing medical reporting, and
making animal infections notifiable is needed. It is emphasized
to undertake detailed comprehensive study to determine the
prevalence and incidence of Q fever, which has emerged as a
significant public health problem in many regions of the world. |
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| ISSN: | 2348-1447 2348-229X |