title: Influence of the environment and occupational exposure on the occurrence of Q fever.
abstract: Q fever, which is caused by Coxiella bumetii, is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease and ruminants are the main reservoir for human infections. Humans become infected primarily by inhaling aerosols that are contaminated with C. bumetii. Ingestion (particularly drinking raw milk) and person-to-person transmission are minor routes. Animals shed the bacterium in urine and faeces, and in very high concentrations in birth by-products. The bacterium persists in the environment in a resistant spore-like form which may become airborne and transported long distances by the wind. Q fever is considered primarily an occupational disease of workers in close contact with farm animals or processing their products, however, it may occur also in persons without direct contact. To prevent the introduction and spread of Q fever infection, preventive measures should be implemented including immunisation with currently available vaccines of domestic animals and humans at risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of P. J. Safárik, Kosice, Slovak Republic. erik.dorko@upjs.sk
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dorko
authors.forename: Kvetoslava
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rimárová
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilipcinec
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D058751:Livestock / Q000382:microbiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018154:Slovakia; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines