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

Wheelhouse, N., Vazquez, R. , Viora, L. and Halliday, J. E.B. (2023) Q fever and coxiellosis: implications for livestock and human health in the UK. Livestock, 28(5), pp. 221-226. (doi: 10.12968/live.2023.28.5.221)

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vazquez, Mr Richard and Halliday, Dr Jo and Viora, Dr Lorenzo
• Authors: Wheelhouse, N., Vazquez, R., Viora, L., and Halliday, J. E.B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Livestock
• Publisher: Mark Allen Group
• ISSN: 2053-0862
• ISSN (Online): 2044-3870
• Published Online: 26 September 2023