Q fever and coxiellosis: implications for livestock and human health in the UK

Abstract

Q fever is a disease which can cause an acute self-limiting infection or long-term chronic condition in people exposed to the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Most human cases in the UK are associated with livestock, particularly small ruminants, which act as a source of the bacteria. This occurs especially around abortion, which is a common symptom of livestock infection where large numbers of organisms are shed into the environment. While the bacteria is endemic in UK livestock, reported clinical cases of human and, indeed, livestock disease remain relatively uncommon, with sporadic outbreaks reported. Vaccination of livestock remains an effective One Health strategy for reducing environmental contamination and therefore exposure to the infection; however, it remains essential that appropriate precautions are taken, including wearing personal protective equipment, when handling the birth products of ruminant livestock.