Q fever: diagnosis, management and prevention in livestock: an update

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii , a bacterium found globally (to avoid repetition of ‘wide’) in a wide range of animals. In ruminants, the infection may cause a range of clinical signs including abortions, infertility, metritis or stillbirths, which can lead to economic losses for the infected herds and impacts sustainability. Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) was made reportable in the UK under the Zoonoses Order in 2021. 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. Although its impact should generally be regarded appropriately as lower than acknowledged major infectious causes of ruminant infertility, such as bovine viral diarrhoea virus or bovine herpesvirus-1, it may not be recognised as significant at all because of poor disease surveillance and diagnostic challenges. Recent surveys across Europe provide an update on the perceptions of farmers and veterinarians. This article seeks to update current thinking regarding diagnosis, prevention and management of Q fever in UK livestock.