Q Fever During Pregnancy

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Abstract
Q FEVER IS A zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii and occurs worldwide. Although the organism may infect mammals, birds, and arthropods,1 domestic animals and pets are the most frequent sources of human infections. Q fever is usually acquired by inhalation of aerosols from parturient fluids or the placenta of infected animals.2 In female animals, C burnetii infections are often chronic and have been associated with abortions in sheep,3 goats,4 and mice,5 and low birth weight and infertility in cattle6 and mice.5 Acute infections result in granuloma formation in infected viscera, and IgM and IgG antibodies develop mainly against the laboratory-derived avirulent form of C burnetii (phase II). In some people, the infection is not controlled by the immune response or by granuloma formation, and very high antibody levels of IgG and IgA types develop, which are directed against both the virulent (phase I) and the avirulent forms (phase II) of C burnetii.2

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