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Cryptic epidemic of Q fever in a medical school
Abstract:
Pregnant sheep used in perinatel research were the source of a large outbreak of Q fever in 1980 among the faculty and staff of a medical school. Complement-fixation tests with phase II Coxiella burnetii antigen were positive in 81 persons, of whom 58 (71.6%) had Q fever during the first eight months of 1980. Microagglutination and/or indirect immunofluorescence tests of 485 sera were positive in an additional 56 persons. Only 41 of the 137 seropositive persons were involved in caring for or working with sheep; the remaining 96(70.1%) persons were located along the routes followed by sheep carts or had been exposed to sheep in other ways. Early in the outbreak few patients sought medical help. Later, most patients reported promptly and responded favorably to therapy with tetracycline. Sheep were removed from the campus in July 1980; cases ceased one month later. Other medical centers engaged in research with pregnant sheep should be alert to the risk of Q fever.
Insights
A Q fever outbreak in 1980 was linked to pregnant sheep in medical research. Prompt tetracycline therapy was effective, and removing sheep stopped new cases, highlighting risks for research centers.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Pregnant sheep used in perinatal research can harbor Coxiella burnetii.
- Q fever outbreaks pose significant risks to human populations in proximity to infected animals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the source and transmission of a Q fever outbreak in a medical school.
- To identify risk factors and effective control measures for Q fever in a research setting.
Main Methods:
- Serological testing (complement-fixation, microagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence) was used to identify infected individuals.
- Epidemiological investigation traced the source of infection to pregnant sheep and identified transmission routes.
Main Results:
- 81 individuals tested positive via complement-fixation, with 58 confirmed Q fever cases.
- An additional 56 individuals tested positive through other serological methods, bringing the total seropositive count to 137.
- Transmission occurred not only through direct contact but also via proximity to sheep and contaminated routes.
Conclusions:
- Research involving pregnant sheep presents a notable risk for Q fever transmission.
- Prompt diagnosis and tetracycline treatment are effective for Q fever.
- Removal of infected animals is crucial for outbreak containment.