EXOone Coxiella burnetii

Description

Coxiella burnetii is a pathogenic intracellular gram negative bacterium. It is the etiological agent of a worldwide remerging infectious zoonotic disease. In humans it produces the so called Q fever. This bacterium is resistant to environmental stress. Its activity can remain after temperature variations (increase, decrease), ultraviolet radiation and osmotic shock action and very few bacteria are enough to succesfully infect animals and people.
Many species are susceptible to C. burnetii infection. Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, camelids, porcine, domestic pets, rodents, ticks and human beings are well described as hosts. Most times, the disease can remain unapparent for years, although flu like symptoms, heart diseases, reproductive processes even abortion are widely reported.