Vet Times Extra: Q Fever, Pt2 - management options

In the second of a two-part podcast series on Q fever – brought to you courtesy of Ceva Animal Health – we talk with vet Helen Scott and Kythe Mackenzie, ruminant vet adviser for Ceva Animal health, about management options for this relatively little-known zoonotic disease. – 𝗤 𝗙𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀. In some parts of the UK more than one in two farms have tested positive for exposure to the pathogen, yet many farmers remain completely unaware of the disease. Q Fever is caused by infection with the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, which is an obligate intracellular pathogenic parasite; it can infect humans, cattle, goats, sheep and many other species. Infection in cattle can result in abortion, weak calves, increased RFM and also increased calving to conception time. Infected cows, even if asymptomatic, shed C. burnetii mainly through birth or abortion products, but also in vaginal mucus, faeces and milk. Q fever can also be an important zoonotic disease. Vets, farmers and other people working with livestock are at risk of infection. These podcasts will provide new insights into the diagnosis, prevalence, zoonotic potential and management of Q Fever – more information is available at bit.ly/2QmKJvd

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