ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis (1). Coxiella burnetii, its etiologic agent, is an obligate intracellular organism. The usual reservoirs for C. burnetii are cattle, sheep, and goats that shed the bacterium in urine, feces, milk, and birth products. Infected pets such as cats, rabbits, and dogs can transmit C. burnetii to humans, and have been sources of human outbreaks. Human infection mainly occurs following inhalation of contaminated aerosols. The organism is highly infectious and is currently considered as a potential bioterrorism agent, classified as a category B biological agent by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2,3).
