Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
David Gonzalez-Barrio, Isabel Jado, Javier Vinuela, Jesus T. Garcia, Pedro P. Olea, Fernando Arce, Francisco Ruiz-Fons
Summary: Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic infectious bacterium that can replicate in multiple host species, with a study in Spain showing Microtus arvalis has the highest infection rates and may have led to human infection during handling.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Annacarla Chiesa, Ciro Onza, Najada Sulcaj, Agate Torggler, Giulia Morosetti, Filippo Conforti, Elisabeth Kofler, Giacomo Moretto, Paola Sinigaglia, Liana Signorini, Christian Piffer, Maria Grazia Zuccaro, Alexander Tavella, Alberto Matteelli
Summary: In this report, an outbreak of Q fever among tourists caused by an infected calf was described. The outbreak was characterized by respiratory transmission and a high attack rate in humans. Through an epidemiological investigation conducted in collaboration with local Health and Veterinary authorities, the outbreak was identified and terminated. The timely diagnosis of a human patient played a crucial role in identifying the outbreak, as the involved animals were asymptomatic. The close collaboration between veterinary and human Public Health services in six different geographical areas of two countries was vital for the rapid termination of the outbreak.
Article
Microbiology
Akinyemi M. Fasemore, Andrea Helbich, Mathias C. Walter, Thomas Dandekar, Gilles Vergnaud, Konrad U. Foerstner, Dimitrios Frangoulidis
Summary: Q fever is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, which continues to pose a threat due to sporadic outbreaks in European farms. To address the lack of a central platform for Coxiella typing data management, an online, open-source, web-based platform called CoxBase has been designed and implemented. This platform includes a database with genotyping information on over 400 Coxiella isolates, features for in silico genotyping, visualization of isolate geodata, and submission of new isolates.
Article
Immunology
Sheila B. Buijs, Chantal P. Bleeker-Rovers, Sonja E. van Roeden, Linda M. Kampschreur, Andy I. M. Hoepelman, Peter C. Wever, Jan Jelrik Oosterheert
Summary: Chronic Q fever typically develops within 2 years after primary infection with Coxiella burnetii. However, the interval between acute Q fever and diagnosis of chronic infection can exceed 9 years. Complications related to chronic Q fever occurred in 41.6% of patients, with a mortality rate of 26.5%.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Alycia P. Fratzke, Erin J. van Schaik, James E. Samuel
Summary: Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular bacterium that causes Q fever in humans, with a wide range of severe syndromes. Eliminating this bacterium is challenging due to its persistence in the environment and domestic livestock. Vaccination is considered the best prevention strategy, but current vaccines have limited use due to severe reactogenic responses. This review provides an overview of past and current research on C. burnetii vaccines, and explores strategies to improve vaccine safety.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Silvia Bozza, Alessandro Graziani, Monica Borghi, Daniele Marini, Michele Duranti, Barbara Camilloni
Summary: Q fever is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. In this case report, a 55-year-old man with a history of aortic valve replacement and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), living in a non-endemic area for C. burnetii, developed severe endocarditis. Despite the lack of reported exposure, a serological diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis was made, highlighting the importance of considering infective endocarditis in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) even when C. burnetii exposure seems unlikely.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rita Abou Abdallah, Matthieu Million, Jeremy Delerce, Hussein Anani, Awa Diop, Aurelia Caputo, Rita Zgheib, Elodie Rousset, Karim Sidi Boumedine, Didier Raoult, Pierre-Edouard Fournier
Summary: The study found that Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, has a high genomic plasticity with unique genes found in many strains. Pathogenicity islands were detected in all genomes. Different genotypes were associated with specific clinical forms and countries. Strains carrying different plasmid types were associated with different clinical forms.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ikram Omar Osman, Aurelia Caputo, Lucile Pinault, Jean-Louis Mege, Anthony Levasseur, Christian A. Devaux
Summary: By scanning the genomes of four laboratory strains of C. burnetii, we identified a functional HtrA sheddase encoded by the bacterium, which cleaves E-cad and leads to polarization and IL-10 secretion of host cells, thereby promoting intracellular replication of C. burnetii.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Stephen R. Graves, Aminul Islam, Lawrence D. Webb, Ian Marsh, Karren Plain, Mark Westman, Xavier A. Conlan, Rodney Carbis, Rudolf Toman, John Stenos
Summary: Q fever is a worldwide problem caused by Coxiella burnetii bacterium. A successful study has shown that a conjugate vaccine, consisting of O-specific polysaccharide from C. burnetii and tetanus toxoid, can provide protection against virulent C. burnetii in guinea pigs. The vaccine showed promising results and could potentially replace the current Q-VAX vaccine.
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Seyma S. S. Celina, Jiri Cerny
Summary: Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium that poses a threat to public health and economy. Livestock are the primary source of infection, but wildlife and ticks may also contribute to its spread. Understanding the role of vectors and hosts is crucial in preventing the transmission of Coxiella burnetii.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Moonsuk Bae, Hyo Joo Lee, Joung Ha Park, Seongman Bae, Jiwon Jung, Min Jae Kim, Sang-Oh Lee, Sang-Ho Choi, Yang Soo Kim, Yong Shin, Sung-Han Kim
Summary: The study conducted at a tertiary-care hospital in South Korea showed that approximately one-third of patients with culture-negative endocarditis and vascular infection were diagnosed as Q fever. Therefore, it is important to try to find evidence of C. burnetii infection in suspected patients by all available diagnostic tests including PCR.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ashraf Mohabati Mobarez, Neda Baseri, Mohammad Khalili, Ehsan Mostafavi, John Stenos, Saber Esmaeili
Summary: This study evaluated the genetic diversity of Coxiella burnetii in Iran using the multi-spacer sequence typing (MST) method. The results revealed the circulation of five MST genotypes among Iranian domestic ruminants, including four novel genotypes. Understanding the genotypic profiles of C. burnetii is crucial for preventing Q fever outbreaks.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Juliane Ankert, Janina Frosinski, Sebastian Weis, Katharina Boden, Mathias W. Pletz
Summary: This study investigated the rates of chronic Q fever and incidences of CFS 6 years after a major Q fever outbreak in Jena, Germany. The results showed no evidence of chronic Q fever, with most patients having recovered, and no differences found in CFS between patient and household member groups.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Younes Laidoudi, Elodie Rousset, Anne-Sophie Dessimoulie, Myriam Prigent, Alizee Raptopoulo, Quentin Huteau, Elisabeth Chabbert, Catherine Navarro, Pierre-Edouard Fournier, Bernard Davoust
Summary: Thirteen cases of Q fever in a area in southern France were likely linked to a sheepfold, which had widespread bacterial contamination. This highlights the need for stronger and improved surveillance of Q fever.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kate A. Clay, M. Gill Hartley, Adam O. Whelan, Mark S. Bailey, Isobel H. Norville
Summary: The timing of antibiotic treatment is crucial for the clinical outcome of bacterial infections, including Q fever. Delayed or incorrect treatment can lead to poor prognosis and chronic sequalae. This study evaluated the efficacy of different doxycycline regimens in an animal model, and highlighted the need to explore other antibiotics for Q fever treatment.