Review on Q Fever and Its Public Health Importance

Q fever is recognized as a global zoonotic disease. The objective of this review paper is to provide an overview of Q Fevers and its public health importance, as well as transmission, control, and preventive measures and the current status in Ethiopia. It affects a wide range of mammals, birds, arthropods, and even humans. The main reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii are cattle, sheep, and goats. Also, ticks are one of the reservoirs. Coxiella burnetii is found in high numbers in amniotic fluid, placenta, and fetal membranes, as well as in the milk, urine, and faeces of infected animals. The organism can persist in spore-like form for more than 40 months. The airborne transmission of Coxiella burnetii associated with its highly resistant environment and the ability to easily produce huge quantities of Coxiella burnetii after the birth of aborted ewes or goats have led to classifying Coxiella burnetii as a Category B biological terrorism agent. Coxiellosis produces both acute and chronic forms of clinical manifestations in humans and also premature fetal death in pregnant women. Sheep and goats may exhibit abortion, stillbirth, premature delivery, and the delivery of weak offspring, while cattle and camels may develop infertility, metritis, and mastitis. Four categories of diagnostic tests are available: isolation, serologic assays, PCR, and stained methods. The recommended treatment for ruminants is to administer oxytetracycline during the last month of gestation. Also, doxycycline is the best medication for humans. In general, Q fever is a global health problem, an OIE-notifiable disease, and an infectious disease that is considered to have economic and public health importance. The control and prevention methods are antibiotic treatment and vaccination. Also, using insecticides to control ticks and following appropriate hygiene practices to avoid the spread of infectious diseases should also be addressed in this review.