Occupational infection in an offal porter: a case of Q fever

This case report describes the job activities of an offal porter who developed Q fever while processing livers from sheep. The diagnosis was confirmed by an increase in specific serial antibody titre. The main clinical features were anorexia, nausea, headache, pyrexia and elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase. Twenty-four cases of occupationally-acquired Q fever were noted by the Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre (CDSC) between 1984 and 1994. This case report has an important feature in that a workplace visit was performed to evaluate the system of work and the circumstances of exposure to the infectious agent. Relevant preventive measures for this zoonotic infection are discussed.