Q fever: a disease with underappreciated significance?

Abstract

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium found worldwide in a wide range of animals. The term ‘Q fever’ (for query fever) was proposed in 1937 by Edward Holbrook Derrick to describe febrile illnesses in abattoir workers in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In ruminants, the infection may cause abortions, infertility, metritis or chronic mastitis, which can lead to economic losses for the infected herds and impacts sustainability. Since 2007, Q fever has been emerging as a public health problem in several parts of Europe, as well as further afield. Although Q fever is asymptomatic in 60% of human cases, it can lead to acute or chronic infections and cause flu-like syndrome, hepatitis, pneumonia, endocarditis or abortions. Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) was made reportable in UK under the Zoonoses Order in 2021.