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Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing
Published on: July 6, 2016
Coxiellosis/Q fever in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management
Herman Egberink1, Diane Addie, Sándor Belák
1European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases. h.f.egberink@uu.nl
Overview:
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Farm animals and pets are the main reservoirs of infection.
Infection:
Cats become infected by ingestion or inhalation of organisms from contaminated carcases of farm animals, or tick bites. Infection is common, as shown by several serological studies.
Clinical Signs:
Experimentally, fever, anorexia and lethargy have been noted. In the field, infection usually remains subclinical. Abortion might occur. C burnetii has been isolated from the placenta of aborting cats, but also from cats experiencing normal parturition.
Diagnosis:
Infection with C burnetii can be diagnosed by isolation of the agent or serology.
Prevention:
Most important is the potential zoonotic risk. Cats suspected of having been exposed to C burnetii might shed organisms during parturition. Wearing gloves and a mask when attending parturient or aborting cats can minimise the risk of infection. Tick prevention is recommended.
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