Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Building a Better Mosquito: Identifying the Genes Enabling Malaria and Dengue Fever Resistance in A. gambiae and A. aegypti Mosquitoes
15:03

Building a Better Mosquito: Identifying the Genes Enabling Malaria and Dengue Fever Resistance in A. gambiae and A. aegypti Mosquitoes

Published on: July 4, 2007

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The Discovery of Q Fever and Its Cause

J V Hirschmann1

  • 1Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle Washington.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|May 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Q fever, a new infection discovered in Australia, was later found to be caused by the same microbe found in ticks in Montana. Understanding its transmission and reservoirs came after World War II.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Veterinary Medicine

Background:

  • Q fever was first identified in Australian slaughterhouse workers by E.H. Derrick.
  • A concurrent discovery in Montana identified a novel tick-borne organism causing fever in guinea pigs.
  • These two discoveries were later unified, revealing the same causative agent for both.

Discussion:

  • The organism responsible for Q fever was identified as Coxiella burnetii.
  • Outbreaks occurred in laboratory settings and during World War II, affecting military personnel.
  • The major animal reservoirs and human transmission routes were elucidated post-war.

Key Insights:

  • Q fever is a zoonotic disease with a global distribution.
  • Ticks serve as a significant vector for Coxiella burnetii.
  • Understanding transmission is crucial for preventing occupational and epidemic spread.

Outlook:

  • Continued research into Coxiella burnetii pathogenesis and epidemiology.
  • Development of improved diagnostic and control strategies for Q fever.
  • Public health awareness regarding zoonotic disease risks in animal industries.
Keywords:
Coxiella burnetiiE.H. DerrickHerald CoxQ fever

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