Which animals are principal sources of Coxiella burnetii infection in humans?

Which animals are principal sources of Coxiella burnetii infection in humans?

• A. Goats, sheep, cattle
• B. Dogs, cats, birds
• C. Pigs, horses, rabbits
• D. Chickens, turkeys, geese

Answer: (A)

Coxiella burnetii, which causes Q fever, is spread to humans mainly through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from birth materials of certain animals. The animals that serve as the principal sources are domestic ruminants—goats, sheep, and cattle. They shed large amounts of the organism during abortion, parturition, and in birth fluids and placentas, and these aerosols can be carried by dust over considerable distances, especially in farming and slaughterhouse settings. That combination of heavy shedding and easy aerosol transmission is why goats, sheep, and cattle are identified as the primary sources of human infection. Other animals can harbor the organism, but they are not the main drivers of human cases. For example, dogs, cats, and birds can be infected but are not typically responsible for the majority of human Q fever outbreaks; pigs, horses, rabbits, and typical poultry are also not considered principal sources in most epidemiological contexts.

Coxiella burnetii, which causes Q fever, is spread to humans mainly through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from birth materials of certain animals. The animals that serve as the principal sources are domestic ruminants—goats, sheep, and cattle. They shed large amounts of the organism during abortion, parturition, and in birth fluids and placentas, and these aerosols can be carried by dust over considerable distances, especially in farming and slaughterhouse settings. That combination of heavy shedding and easy aerosol transmission is why goats, sheep, and cattle are identified as the primary sources of human infection.

Other animals can harbor the organism, but they are not the main drivers of human cases. For example, dogs, cats, and birds can be infected but are not typically responsible for the majority of human Q fever outbreaks; pigs, horses, rabbits, and typical poultry are also not considered principal sources in most epidemiological contexts.