Module 7: Q Fever (Bessler)

Question 1

What does the “Q” in Q fever stand for?

Answer 1

Query (the causal agent was unknown at the time)

Question 2

• Obligate, intracellular, Gram-negative BACTERIA
• Highly infectious
• Stable in the environment and resistant to heat, drying, and many common disinfectants
• Killed by pasteurization (indicator organism)

Answer 2

Coxiella burnetii

Question 3

What are some of the characteristics of Category B bioterrorism agents?

Answer 3

• Are moderately easy to disseminate (aerosolized easily)
• Result in moderate mobility rates and low mortality rates
• Require specific enhancements of CDC’s diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance

Question 4

What are the primary reservoirs for Q fever?

Answer 4

Cattle, sheep, and goats
- very impactful to human populations

Question 5

Which country represents the exception from Q fever’s worldwide distribution?

Answer 5

New Zealand

Question 6

How does the transmission of Q fever occur?

Answer 6

• Inhalation (droplets or contaminated dust) - within 5 km*
• Direct and indirect contact*
• Fomites*
• Ingestion*
  *Infectious material - bodily fluids (birthing products, milk, urine, feces)
• Arthropods (ticks)

Question 7

Fill in the blanks:
Disease in humans
1. Incubation period of _______ weeks
2. Most cases (50-60%) are _______________
3. Two forms
- Acute disease
- Chronic disease

Answer 7

1. 2-3
2. asymptomatic

Question 8

• Most often self-limiting ILI, fever for 7 – 14 days
• Atypical pneumonia
• Hepatitis
• Skin Rash
• Myocarditis, meningoencephalitis, pericarditis
• Death

Answer 8

Acute Disease

Question 9

• Occurs in 1-5% of people infected, usually fatal if left untreated
• Endocarditis
• Other - Granulomatous hepatitis, cirrhosis, osteomyelitis

Answer 9

Chronic Disease

Question 10

Who are at risk?

Answer 10

Prior heart disease, immunocompromised, and pregnant women**
** Most are asymptomatic, Transplacental transmission

Question 11

What are the types of diagnosis used?

Answer 11

• Serology
• DNA detection
• Isolation (rarely done)

Question 12

Why is isolation rarely done?

Answer 12

Biohazard potential

Question 13

A DALY stands for ______________ and represents the loss of the equivalent of one year of full health

Answer 13

Disability-adjusted life year

Question 14

What is the standard minimum amount of contact time to achieve disinfection?

Answer 14

10 minutes

Question 15

(T/F) Q fever is resistant to pasteurization

Answer 15

False

Question 16

(T/F) Q fever is highly infectious; only a single C. burnetii organism can cause disease in susceptible person

Answer 16

True