Q Fever Studies in Maryland

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Abstract
Q fever studies in Maryland In 1963 revealed that a major source of possible human infection was infected dairy cattle. Of 2,065 herd milk samples tested, 72.4% were CA (capillary agglutination) positive. Seven isolations of Coxiella burnetii were made from these samples. Serologic evidence of exposure was obtained from: a survey of farm residents exposed to infected cattle, in which 15.3% of 124 people tested were CF (complement fixation) positive; and a survey of the general population of the State, which showed that of 23,283 serums tested, 0.35% were CF positive. Serologic reaction appeared to be related to residence or employment in the vicinity of infected dairy cattle. No acute illness attributable to Q fever was reported by any of the serologically positive people who were interviewed. An isolation of C. burnetii was made from a person with no reported acute illness, suggesting that asymptomatic infections may have occurred.